Defibrillator in place at Kahului Airport

Advertiser Staff

KAHULUI, Maui — An automated external defibrillator was dedicated yesterday at Kahului Airport.

The Maui airport is the first in Hawai'i to get the device under a pilot program of the state Airports Division.

The defibrillator is in a specially labeled cabinet on the second-floor rotunda and is meant to be used to help victims of cardiac arrest. The life-saving device provides an electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm.

When the cabinet door is opened, an alarm is activated to initiate a "911" response and to alert anyone in the vicinity who is trained to use the device, including doctors, airline staff and airport personnel.

The Maui defibrillator was donated by local dentist Howard T. Shimokawa.

Attending yesterday's dedication ceremony were state and county public safety officials and representatives of the American Heart Association and the Airports Division.