At the Snack Shack at South Commons, which is situated at 34 South Street close to Berlin Memorial School, Berlin Fire & EMS Department personnel activated a new public access automatic external defibrillator (AED) on June 26.

According to officials, the AED is kept within its suggested functioning range all year round by being kept in a temperature-controlled cabinet. Additionally, the cabinet has the ability to take security photos and instantly alert 911 when it is unlocked. The new AED increases public access to life-saving devices in a location that is regularly used for leisure activities and neighborhood gatherings.

According to department officials, the installation was financed by state earmark funds and Town Meeting backing as part of the department's AED replacement and expansion program.