Life-saving equipment installed at 3 Hermiston recreation areas
Published 3:00 pm Monday, November 3, 2025
HERMISTON — The city of Hermiston, Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation and Umatilla County Dispatch are partnering to provide live-saving equipment to three community recreation sites in Hermiston.
Three automated external defibrillators were installed Oct. 28 at the the HEROS Sportsplex at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, the Good Shepherd Pickleball Complex and Funland Playground. The AEDs were funded through a $7,500 grant from the health foundation.
The AEDs at the Good Shepherd Pickleball Complex and Funland Playground are in outdoor cabinets with a locking code. During a medical emergency, individuals can call 911 to receive the access code, enabling them to administer aid using the AED while emergency responders are on the way. The AED at the HEROS Sportsplex will be unlocked and available during scheduled activities.
The Hermiston Parks & Recreation Department applied for the grant to make life-saving equipment more accessible in high-traffic recreational areas. Hermiston is the first city in Umatilla County to offer AEDs in secure, lockable outdoor cabinets.
Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Artz said having the AEDs readily available in some of Hermiston’s busiest parks “brings a sense of security for our community.”
‘Every second counts’
Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 Community Paramedic Jessica Marcum said early CPR and defibrillation make the biggest impact on whether someone survives a cardiac event.
“In an emergency, every second counts,” Marcum said. “People who get those interventions within three minutes, often before emergency responders arrive, have the highest chance of survival. We are so glad our residents and visitors will be equipped with this life-saving equipment.”
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Communication Lt. Justin Russell in a statement said the partnership between the city, Good Shepherd and local emergency responders ensures that live-saving equipment is accessible when an emergency occurs.
“When dealing with an unresponsive person, our 911 call-takers provide pre-arrival instructions to callers before EMS providers are on scene, which include instructions on how to use an AED,” according to Russell.
Good Shepherd Health Care System offers AED, CPR and first aid classes for those interested in learning more about life-saving techniques.
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