FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Chardon Police Officers get new defibrillators; FD
trains them
6/30/01 -- City of Chardon, Ohio
The City of Chardon recently purchased two Medtronic Physio Control Lifepak
500 Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) for use by their police
officers. The Chardon Fire Department recently trained the officers on the
proper use of the new devices by teaching them the American Heart Asssociation's
Heartsaver AED course. Over one week, approximately 15 officers went
through the four hour course.
The AED's were immediately placed in service on
the patrol cruisers. They can be used to immediately deliver a shock to a
cardiac arrest victim, while waiting for the arrival of EMS.
The AED can be used by
civilians, firemen, EMT's, Paramedics, & police officers who are trained in it's
use. The device is applied only to pulseless, unresponsive victims.
It reads the heart rhythm using two adhesive pads, connected to the machine by a
set of cables. A combination of voice prompts and visual displays guide
the rescuer through the steps to deliver an electical shock (defibrillation)
through the cables, in the hopes of converted lethal cardiac disturbances.
The American Heart Association endorses this device as the #1 most definitive
therapy for sudden cardiac arrest. It is estimated that over 150,000
people can be saved yearly if AED's are made widely available in public
places. The widespread implementation of AED's in public places has led to
dramatic improvements in survival for hundreds of cardiac arrest victims
nationwide. Recently, the use of AED's by lay persons and bystanders was
placed under the protection of Ohio's Good Samaritan Act, which protects citizen
first aiders from litigation.
Kudos to Chardon City Council, Police Chief
David Hyslop, and Sgt. Scott Hildenbrand for their support of this lifesaving
program.
The Chardon Fire Department intends to buy two additional AED's for its
response vehicles with future grant monies. We encourage area residents to
be proactive towards requesting that AED's be placed in their community's police
and sheriff's cruisers, as well as their schools and athletic fields.
(Background
MIDI Music File - Help! by the Beatles)
For More Information Contact:
Chardon Fire Department
110 S. Hambden St. Chardon, OH 44024
Tel: 440-285-4665
FAX: 440-285-8320
Internet: Capt. John Blauch
