Life-Saving Device Located At Simsbury Pickleball Courts

Town of Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — Those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at one local park are now one step closer to having their lives saved.

The Simsbury Culture, Parks, and Recreation Department recently unveiled an outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) device at the Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex at 100 Old Farms Road.

The AED enclosure is located near the tennis/pickleball courts and platform tennis courts.

The AED and its storage enclosure were made possible by a donation from Simsbury resident Christine Boswell, according to the Town of Simsbury.

Sadly, Boswell lost her husband, Brian Koscher, to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while he was playing hockey locally and an AED was not available when needed, according to a town release.

“Unfortunately, while emphasis is often placed on having an AED available inside facilities or during organized sporting events and practices, sudden cardiac arrests frequently happen outside in parks and recreation areas,” said Boswell.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said she is excited the town can offer this valuable piece of equipment to users of the Simsbury Farms recreation facilities.

“While making sure our outdoor recreation facilities have these outdoor AEDs available is seemingly such a small thing that the town can do, it’s something that in a moment’s notice can make the biggest impact in someone’s life. When every second counts, quick access to this device truly can be the difference between life and death,” she said.

Mackstutis said the town’s parks and recreation staff are currently working on having AEDs made available in other recreation facilities as soon as this spring.