The Vernon Pump Track is more than a place to ride. It is where local kids and families stay active, build friendships, and burn off energy on two wheels. In 2025, our community made sure it also has something every sports facility should have: an AED.
Why an AED at a bike track
In a sudden cardiac arrest, every second counts. An AED, an automated external defibrillator, can deliver a lifesaving shock and restore a normal heart rhythm, but only if there is one close enough to reach in time. Whether it is a young rider, a parent, or a spectator, having one on site can be the difference between life and death. As a volunteer EMT and 1st Lieutenant of the Wantage First Aid Squad, our owner James has seen firsthand what those minutes mean.
How it happened
The Pump Track AED Project was organized by the Vernon Rotary Club with a goal of raising $3,000 to purchase and install the unit, with Vernon Township agreeing to maintain it just like the AED at Maple Grange Park. JWSR joined as a corporate sponsor alongside some great local companies: JC Security and Training of Vernon, M Miller Plumbing, Heating & Drain Cleaning of Hamburg, and Simpson Roofing of Vernon.
The community came through. The fundraiser hit its goal, and the new AED was unveiled at the Vernon Pump Track on May 17, 2025.
Why we put our name on it
We dig for a living, but we live here too. Our crew works in these towns every day, and our kids grow up here. When there is a chance to make a place where kids play measurably safer, that is an easy yes. Thank you to the Vernon Rotary Club for organizing it, to our fellow sponsors, and to every neighbor who donated.
Source: Pump Track AED Project fundraiser page (Vernon Rotary Club).