The Burnettown Police Department has its first automated external defibrillator, thanks to a donation from a credit union. Police Chief David Paul Smith said the device allows the department to fully implement its medical first responder program.
1. What is an automated external defibrillator?
When people have a heart attack, this is the jump-start box that you see first responders run up with. What this does is provide a shock to the heart to get it back into a rhythm to sustain life.
2. Why is it important that police officers carry one of these medical devices in their patrol cars?
Because we are usually the first ones at an emergency scene. The first 10 minutes of any incident like this are the most crucial to life.
3. How will this benefit the residents of Burnettown?
The AED could be a vital tool to saving a life in the community because it jump starts the heart of someone in cardiac arrest.
4. How important is it for Burnettown to have a medical first responder program?
I think it's extremely important. We want to be able to respond to life-threatening emergencies in our town. We are having a large number of traffic fatalities. We just want to be prepared. There's no worse feeling than being somewhere and there's nothing you can do.
5. How many more of these devices does the police department hope to purchase?
We need to have one more in case one goes out of service.
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