The Salem Police Department has seven new Automated External Defibrillators for each squad car and one for the police station building.
The new units are the result of an $11,585 grant from the Sonnentag Foundation on behalf of County Materials Corporation and County Prestress, LLC.
Salem Police Chief Sean Reynolds says the units replace those that are up to 20 years old.
“If we found someone who was suffering from what we believe to be cardiac arrest, of course we would begin CPR and while beginning we can attach that AED to the victim or patient and it will monitor them to let us know if we need to provide a shock. If we do, we literally press a button, clear and provide the shock before starting to provide CPR again.”
Reynolds says the units have been life savers.
“I don’t know how many life saves we have had, but I’ve had a couple of these in my career as a result of having these that otherwise possibly might not be saved. We are blessed to have EMS local with quick access but sometimes it takes a little bit to get there and time is of the essence.”
Telecommunicator Mike Anderson learned of the grant opportunity and submitted the application to County Materials.
The units are currently in the process of being switched out with the old AED’s in each of the squad cars.
