The visitor center in downtown San Luis Obispo now has an automated external defibrillator to help save the life of anyone having a heart attack.

The $1,650 device was given to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce by Lynne Callahan and the John W. Callahan Heart Safe Project.

John Callahan was San Luis Obispo’s fire chief who had a heart attack and died on Aug. 18, 2010. His wife believes he would have lived if a defibrillator had been available.

The Heart Safe Project also plans to put defibrillators at Tartaglia Realty downtown, television station KSBY and the Point San Luis Lighthouse.

“Hopefully we will never have to use the device,” said Grace Allen, the chamber’s visitor services director. “But our downtown location and AED-and-CPR-certified staff members will improve the safety of downtown SLO.”