M-I-C-K-E-Y now has AEDs

September 17, 2001

Starting this month, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will install 500 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and on the Disney Cruise ships. More than 4,000 security guards, nurses and cast members will be trained. The devices will be placed not only in the theme parks, but in entertainment complexes, hotels, golf courses, backstage buildings and cruise ships. AEDs will be assigned to response personnel and vehicles and will be available for public access on hotel properties. The program will be introduced in phases and is expected to be completed by June 2002.

"We already have a great EMS system," said Bob Minnick, WDW project executive, who described its emergency medical facilities and Medical Assistance Response Carts, which are equipped with traditional defibrillators. "This (AED) program will serve to augment our emergency response."

Disney's initiative is considered one of the biggest private deployments of defibrillators in the United States.