Widow pleased about new defibrillators on trains
By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff
Marlene Allen stood off to the side today at South Station as transportation officials described a new program that will place automated external defibrillators on 84 MBTA commuter rail trains. Her husband, Dr. James R. Allen, died in 2002 after suffering a heart attack on a train that lacked a defibrillator, a device used to revive cardiac arrest victims.
"I'm just pleased this day has come," Allen said after the press conference. "It's unfortunate that it takes a death to make this kind of change."
Allen has been working since her husband’s death to persuade the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to install the defibrillators. She also won a $3.9 million settlement from the MBTA and Amtrak, which used to have the contract to run MBTA commuter service. When Allen's husband was stricken, the conductor stopped at three stations over 20 minutes, but did not promptly summon medical help.
"He paid a dear price, but I’m so glad they’re here today," his wife said today.
Allen pointed to the sad irony that another Wellesley man had died in an airplane in the 1990s, prompting airlines to install the devices. "They're about six years apart and six blocks apart," she said.
"Clearly," Allen said. "It saves lives."
The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. is also giving conductors and assistant conductors four hours of training in CPR and defibrillators use on adults and children. To date, 140 employees have been trained and 30 defibrillators have been installed, officials said.
“MBCR has worked closely with the MBTA to provide this important life safety equipment which will improve safety for commuter rail customers,” said Richard A. Davey, MBCR’s general manager, in a statement. Defibrillators "are a proven technology that can save somebody’s life in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.”
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This is great news. Mrs. Allen sounds like a very forgiving and positive person. Much more so than many of us would be, including me. Financial penalties aside, my question is what were the consequences for the conductor who (apparently) ignored the seriousness of this situation - twenty minutes and three train stations (!). I ride the Framingham/Worcester line. There are plenty of opportunities for stopping in high-traffic areas for ambulatory access. Not to mention the Newton-Wellesley hospital, which is minutes from the train as it runs along the Mass Pike. What happened to this individual? Hopefully they are no longer with the MBTA.
I'm pleased as punch. May no tragedy like this happen again. But the MBTA personnel needs to be trained to use them, for another. And - the trains/subways need to get an ambulance and STOP at the next stop if in transit; stay at the stop if already stopped. And realize seizures are not the same as drunkenness.
This is fantastic news . . . but why are these being placed ONLY on commuter rails? What about those taking the "regular T"?
AEDs are great devices and really do save lives if used promptly. However, they have to be properly maintained and their location on the train needs to be made known to passengers as well as the crew. While training on the use of an AED is nice, these devices are designed to be used by anyone regardless of training. Therefore, they should be immediately accessible to anybody riding the train as tracking down the crew wastes time when the cardiac arrest survival rate decreases approximately 10% for each minute the AED's use is delayed. The impact of the AEDs will be muted if they're locked up in a compartment somewhere that requires tracking down train personal to open.
Did this widow paid for this from the money she won?
What else will we add to the public transportation and increase the tickets price even more?
Does she have it in her car?
It's a shame to make a business from a personal tragedy.
How long before these things go missing?
Being a commuter on the orange line, I am thrilled that the AED's will be available. I am a nurse and have see first hand patients lives saved with AED's at the scene. With more and more baby boomers taking the T, there is an increased risk for the need of AED's. Please stock the orange line quickly and train the personnel.
Thanks to Mrs. Allen for pushing this initiative. God bless you!
I'm CPR/First Aid trained and in the lessons they teach you to use a defibulator. They're actually very easy to use and tell you--very clearly--what to do. Anyone can use them...if they're available to be used.
Forgiving and positive? Yeah, after a 3.9 million dollar settlement. If she was forgiving she would donate the money to the MBTA to pay for the defibs, instead of making the rest of us pay for them. Defibs are great, but why is it in this day and age everyone believes that they need to be taken care of everywhere they go? You want a defib everywhere you go, bring it with you.
I've always been grimly amused at the fact that at major subway intersection points such as Downtown Crossing there are defibrillators in T officials' offices. Pity the offices are always locked and thus someone could die ten feet away with no ability to use them. Maybe if you broke the office window to get at the defibrillator that would teach them a lesson?
iboston- glad you are worried about your pocket book over saving someone's life. Remind me to sit next to someone else on the train/bus. AED's are nothing, but helpful. They are in malls, restaurants, and airplanes if you have noticed that you've had to pay more in the use of these things than you are probably onto some type of crazy conspiracy - otherwise you are being completely foolish.
God bless Mrs. Allen, But really T personnel being helpful - never mind saving a life. Come on- Not going to happen!T employees are absolutely USELESS!
Why did this take almost 7 years?
Red17, no worries. Given you believe in always standing on your own two feet, I'll make a mental note not to revive you should you collapse. If you can't take care of yourself afterall, why should any of us go to the trouble or potential 'expense'.
Plus sounds like with a heart as TINY as yours, it would be impossible to resuscitate.
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