City of Ocala Installs AEDs to Protect Utility Staff

 The City of Ocala completed training of over 100 employees on Wednesday, October 28 on how to use their new automated external defibrillators (AEDs).  Mike McCleary, T&D Supervisor, spearheaded the effort to install 26 AEDs throughout the utility. 

 Wesley Fleming, Location T&D; Mike McCleary,T&D Supervisor and Mel Poole, Telecom

Twenty-two will be deployed in line trucks and utility vehicles including water, sewer, electric meter and telecom departments to help protect in the event of electrical contact or cardiac arrest.   Four will be located in buildings in the meter shop, T&D, telecom and the substations. 

McCleary said “Safety is expensive.  It may cost, but our task is to make it an excellent value.”  They invested a great deal to purchase the AEDs.  “These AEDs will be on our trucks throughout the community.  They are more than a value to our employees.  Because of our large presence in the community they could be the life-saving difference for someone in the public."

They take the time to hold safety meetings every Thursday.  “Things come out” when you get the group together routinely to talk.  They also conduct training in real life situations.  Their training yard is capable of being energized and they have to go through switching and tagging anytime they enter the yard. This provides plenty of practice for real life situations.