Belgium Offers First Public AEDs in Ozaukee County

When he became the Chief for the Belgium Fire Department in 2023, Pat Wester set a goal to have AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) installed at both Community Park and Heritage Park in the Village of Belgium. Both of these locations see thousands of visitors annually for baseball games and tournaments, family gatherings, and community fund raisers, as well as other events. Part of that goal was having this equipment available for public use 24/7.

AED Secured Box - Community Park

Due to donations from various local businesses and civic organizations, including the Belgium Lions Club, Plus Group Wealth Advisors LLC, Next Chapter Real Estate, Lakeside Foods, and Kwik Trip, as well as a grant, enough funds were raised to purchase two fully automatic AEDs and two locked, secured cabinets. These were recently installed at Community and Heritage parks, the first locations in Ozaukee County having public AEDs.

Donors included the Belgium Lions Club, Plus Group Wealth Advisors, Next Chapter Real Estate, Lakeside Food, and Kwik Trip

In the event of a medical emergency in which an AED is needed, the bystander can call 911, at which time a code will be given to open the locked cabinet, providing access to the AED. These AEDs have also been registered into Pulse Point AED, which means if a bystander calls 911 for an unresponsive victim in an area near either park, they will be directed to the location of these AEDs by the 911 dispatcher.

AED located at Community Park

Chief Wester recently recognized and thanked the donors, as well as the Village of Belgium and the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and support in setting up this program. This is the first location in Ozaukee County to have AEDs available to the public 24/7 through a program like this.