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Rappahannock supervisors back plan for public AED network, training and PulsePoint review
Summary
Supervisors discussed rolling out about 35 publicly accessible AED cabinets, pairing them with community training and evaluating PulsePoint integration with emergency dispatch; the board encouraged pursuing funding partnerships and staff follow-up.
During the FY27 budget wrap-up discussion, a board member urged the county to fund a publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) program and to integrate AED locations with PulsePoint or similar dispatch-notification software.
The program outlined a three-tier approach: primary locations (about 35 high-traffic public sites such as the Spraville Marketplace and Quickie Mart), secondary placements in populated hollows with weatherproof cabinets, and tertiary placements at major trailheads where hikers and visitors could access an AED.
Board members and staff discussed logistics including climate-controlled kiosks, lock mechanisms (911 or local business call-in combos), potential theft risk, and partnerships with the local cooperative (REC) to locate cabinets at utility poles where appropriate. The board also asked staff to pursue funding partners and to craft signage and branding for the county network.
County staff and volunteers will also work with dispatch to evaluate whether PulsePoint is appropriate for the county’s rural coverage and cell connectivity and to arrange regular CPR/AED training sessions for staff and the public. Supervisors suggested twice-yearly community training and near-term staff training so county employees know how to access and use deployed units.
No formal appropriation was authorized at the meeting; supervisors asked staff to return with a funding plan, placement recommendations and any operational steps needed to integrate with dispatch and to schedule training.
