An occasional scenario: An Allen Countian suffers cardiac problems. 911 is called and an ambulance is dispatched. A sheriff’s deputy on patrol is nearby and arrives ahead of the ambulance.
Because of seizure of a marijuana-laden airplane July 11, 2014, at Allen County Airport, Sheriff Bryan Murphy had the wherewithal to purchase Automated Electronic Defibrillators for each of his seven patrol vehicles.
“It may not happen often, but there will be times when they can be used to help keep a patient alive before an ambulance arrives,” Murphy said.
The defibrillators were handed off to officers this weekend. Each has been trained in their use, although with the automatic feature the machines contain computerized components that make the decision when to shock a patient, from information gleaned from a connection to the patient.
The officers all also are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Murphy stressed his officers don’t mean to replace a paramedic or doctor, but with their knowledge and equipment can provide stop gap measures to keep a person alive until more experience assistance arrives.
The machines cost $1,500, a little over $2,000 each, with purchase power coming from the sale of the airplane.
“We got $52,000,” Murphy said. Of that $32,000 previously was spent on updated, next-generation video cameras for all sheriff’s vehicles.
Since the airplane’s sale was done in concert with the Department of Justice, there are limits on how the local funds may be spent, Murphy said, such as for defibrillators and cameras.
