AED Grant Funds Automated External Defibrillators
for added Safety at Sharon Arts School and Gallery

Sharon Arts Center is pleased to announce that the organization will now have Automated External Defibrillators (AED) available for added safety at both SAC locations; the downtown Galleries in Depot Square of Peterborough and the School of Art & Craft on remote Route 123 in Sharon.

Research shows that responding during the first 10 minutes of a heart attack yields the highest recovery results. These user-friendly AED machines talk individuals through the process of evaluating a victim’s need for defibrillation through concise audible prompts, and then provides the steps for administering treatment. Select Sharon Arts staff at both the rural Sharon and downtown Peterborough locations are trained and certified AED operators. The units are centrally located (housed on the main floors just outside the offices of each location), and have been registered with the NH Department of Safety.

Nationwide and within New Hampshire, the concept of public access defibrillation is growing in popularity, as it is the definitive treatment for restoring functional heart rhythm, according to the American Heart Association. More rural areas of New Hampshire (like Sharon) may not see an ambulance response for up to 20 minutes after a 911 call, defibrillator units provide an opportunity to assist a victim until EMT’s can arrive. “Some medical experts suggest that the use of this new technology in a community wide program might increase the initial survival rate of cardiac arrest victims from two percent to as much as 40 percent.” - NH Bureau of EMS. New Hampshire laws pertaining to AED’s will be posted alongside the units.

“Our AED grant, combined with funding from Penny Warfield-a generous trustee and supporter, enabled us to acquire two devices that will provide added safety and reassurance to our students, visitors, faculty, and staff.” Cited School Director Alexandra Wall. “We hope that the installation of this new equipment will provide our students and gallery visitors with added reassurance during their time at Sharon Arts.”

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About Sharon Arts

The mission of Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is to engage the community in the artistic process, to support and serve artists and craftspeople, and to foster the relationship between artists and the community through education, exhibitions, the promotion and sale of art and craft, as well as through special programs and events.

Sharon Arts Center offers a wide variety of art classes and programs in the school facility in Sharon, NH, a Fine Craft Gallery, a Juried Artist Member Gallery, and an Exhibition Gallery in the Depot Square facility. The Sharon Arts Fine Crafts Gallery is located in Depot Square in Downtown Peterborough. Store hours are: Monday – Saturday, 10am to 6pm, Sunday, 12 noon – 6pm.

Sharon Arts is sponsored in part by the Bean Family Foundation, The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, The Susan A. and Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, and the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation.