Toms River business donates defibrillator to South Seaside Park lifeguards

Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore help thousands of beach goers each day during our warm summer months, but what happens when our lifeguards need help - especially if the aid they seek takes them beyond water rescues, and potentially saves lives right on the beach?

Enter one of Ocean County's most venerable companies, supplying the electronic gear that can mean the difference between life and death for an individual experiencing a heart attack.

The ocean lifeguards of Island Beach Motor Lodge in South Seaside Park had long sought an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The devices, now becoming standard equipment in schools and public areas, transmits electric impulses to sudden cardiac arrest victims, with the aim of restoring normal heart rhythms. The problem was the cost, exceeding $1,000.

Word reached Carl DelPizzo, Jr., and Cindy Kuhmann, of Carl's Fencing, Decking and Home Improvements in Toms River. They decided that it was time to resue the rescuers. So, they dug into their pockets and bought it.

Today, Carl and members of his staff presented the Island Beach Motor Lodge squad with the AED that meets their specifications. In return, their surf rescue vessel now sports the Carl's Fencing logo.

Kudos to Carl's, and to lifeguards up and down the coast, for helping keep our community tightly-knit, responsive, and safe.