City Unveils Lifesaving SaveStation at Meadowdale Playfields
Published on October 09, 2023
On Friday, October 6, the Truax Family, Nick of Time Foundation, DP Foundation, City of Lynnwood, Edmonds School District, and South County Fire gathered to celebrate the addition of an AED SaveStation at Meadowdale Playfields. A SaveStation is far more than an AED cabinet; it's a public awareness program that provides critical education about CPR and how to use an AED. With less than 10 minutes to save a life, we depend on the public to feel confident to take action in an emergency. Knowing where to go and what to do in the first few minutes is critical to saving a life.
On the SaveStation is a QR code that can be scanned to learn how to use the AED. Next to it is a plaque dedicating the SaveStation in memory of Matthew Truax:
Matthew grew up attending Meadowdale schools and playing at the Meadowdale Playfields. He unexpectedly died at age 16 from a sudden cardiac arrest in September 2013, one day after a 90-minute soccer practice.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in young athletes during sports and exercise. In an emergency where a person collapses and is unresponsive, immediately call 911, initiate CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) as quickly as possible to deliver a life-saving shock to the heart.
“The loss of Matthew Truax, Daniel Phelps, and so many others from SCA leaves a hole in our communities that is impossible to fill,” said Mayor Christine Frizzell in her remarks.
“This SaveStation honors and celebrates their memory. While I truly hope this station never has to be used, we are comforted and hopeful in knowing its potential to prevent another family from experiencing that devastating loss.”
The Meadowdale Playfields SaveStation was generously donated by the DP Foundation, Nick of Time Foundation, and Truax Family. Together, they raise awareness for SCA, conduct EKG youth heart screenings at local high schools, place AEDs, and educate youth in hands-only CPR. Learn more at www.nickoftimefoundation.org.
Project 100 was just launched and is a collective effort of volunteer medical professionals and other community leaders from the UW Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology, Nick of Time Foundation, DP Foundation, Medic One Foundation, King County Public Health, and Resuscitation Academy. Its mission is to make our community safer from sudden cardiac arrest by placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in outdoor sports and public recreation spaces. They believe every sports field should have access to an AED. Learn more at JoinProject100.org.