At a recent meeting of the Friends of James River State Park, members of the group voted to use $1,500 of the funds raised throughout the year to purchase two Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for James River State Park. These AEDs, HeartSine Samaritan 350, are portable devices that check the patient’s heartbeat and deliver an electric shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm. They will be strategically placed within the park so that park staff can act more quickly in an emergency where a park visitor has a heart attack. Although the park hopes to never need the devices, they will provide another level of safety for park guests.

The Friends of James River State Park is a nonprofit group dedicated to enhancing James River State Park’s natural resources and visitor experiences. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Friends of James River State Park, meetings are held at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month at the park’s Visitor Center.

For more information about becoming a member of the Friends Group, call James River State Park at (434) 933-4355.