Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. partnered with the American Red Cross to provide some life-saving equipment to the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens and the JVL Dimotsis-Vallone Senior Center.

The automated external defibrillators (AED) were purchased through funding provided by Vallone, a strong proponent of increasing defibrillator availability throughout the city.

“Every second counts in emergency situations, and the immediate use of defibrillators can go a long way towards saving a life,” said Vallone. “The chances of survival from sudden cardiac death decrease by about 10 percent per minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation.”

An AED checks the heart rhythm and sends electric shocks to the heart following a cardiac arrest, if needed.

JVL Dimotsis-Vallone Senior Center is one of the most used senior centers in western Queens, and the Variety Boys & Girls Club in Astoria serves more than 200 children a day. 

“This device is vital to the safety of the children,” said Variety president Walter Sanchez.

Vallone previously helped provide new defibrillators to the Most Precious Blood Grammar School, St. Francis of Assisi Grammar School and St. Demitrios High School, among other locations.

Vallone was joined by American Red Cross in Greater New York Regional CEO Josh Lockwood in presenting the defibrillators to the community groups last week.