Woodbury County Sheriff's deputies now equipped with defibrillators
By Dolly A. Butzdbutz@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Woodbury County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Doug Boetger stows his department-issued automatic external defibrillator into the trunk of his vehicle. The sheriff's department is equipping deputies with the potentially life-saving devices. Boetger said he likes the small size of the unit which allows it to be easily carried. (Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds)
SIOUX CITY -- Woodbury County Sheriff's deputies are now better equipped to successfully intervene in cardiac emergencies, thanks to a compact device that delivers an electrical shock to the heart.
Last month, the sheriff's office began equipping its entire patrol fleet with Automatic External Defibrillators, AEDs. So far three deputies have completed training and are carrying the devices in their squad cars.
"This is one of those pieces of equipment we hope we never use," Sgt. Doug Boetger said while packing the small bright yellow-green Zoll Medical AED plus into the trunk of his car.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, is a leading cause of death in the United States claiming more than 250,000 lives each year, according to the Heart Rhythm Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients.
In SCA the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Blood then stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If not treated in minutes, SCA is typically fatal,
An AED is designed to recognize certain cardiac arrhythmias, and corrects them by applying an electrical shock. It also acts as a CPR coach, instructing the rescuer with voice commands.
Jerome Pierson, an interventional cardiologist with Cardiovascular Associates in Sioux City, said studies have shown that a patient is four times more likely to survive cardiac arrest with CPR and the use of an AED, than with CPR alone.
"We know that by simply having (AEDs) available in combination with CPR that you do make a significant improvement in the likelihood of survival of an out of hospital arrest," he said.
Over the years, Woodbury County Chief Deputy Greg Logan said deputies have performed CPR on numerous occasions. In 2005, he said a man suffered a fatal heart attack during a traffic stop in Woodbury County. Having access to an AED in that type of situation could save a life, according to Logan.
"Our personnel are in the field 24-7," he said. "When you're talking about cardiac emergencies, seconds literally count."
The sheriff's office isn't the only law enforcement agency in Siouxland to implement AEDs.
In June of 2002 the Sergeant Bluff Police Department obtained an AED through a state grant. Police Chief Dave McFarland said the department now owns two AEDs, and that officers have used them many times in emergency situations. One person's life was saved due to the AED, according to McFarland.
"We're almost always the first responders to ambulance calls," he said. "We have a volunteer ambulance service, so (officers) are always there first."
Although the Sioux City Police Department has an AED at police headquarters, Sioux City police Lt. Marti Reilly said officers do not have the devices in their squad cars. Reilly said officers usually respond to emergency calls along with the Sioux City Fire Department, which carries AEDs on its fire trucks.
"If we can get a grant or additional funding we may possibly do it," he said.
The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office previously applied for grants to obtain the AEDs, but was unsuccessful in securing funding. Cutting costs in other areas freed up enough money in the budget this year for the sheriff's office to purchase 20 AEDs, which cost around $26,000 total, according to Logan.
"I think it just helps us be a more effective public safety agency to be able to provide this kind of service," he said.
The sheriff's office expects to have all of its deputies on patrol with an AED in the next 90 days.
Cardiac chain of survival
Early recognition and early access -- The sooner your local emergency number is called, the sooner early advanced life support arrives.
Early CPR -- Helps circulate blood that contains oxygen to vital organs until an AED is ready for use or medical personnel arrive.
Early defibrillation -- Most victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest need an electric shock to restore the heart to a regular rhythm. Each minute that defibrillation is delayed the victim's chance of survival decreases by about 10 percent.
Early advanced life support -- Given by trained medical personnel who provide further care and transport the victim to hospital facilities.
Source: American Red Cross.
Last month, the sheriff's office began equipping its entire patrol fleet with Automatic External Defibrillators, AEDs. So far three deputies have completed training and are carrying the devices in their squad cars.
"This is one of those pieces of equipment we hope we never use," Sgt. Doug Boetger said while packing the small bright yellow-green Zoll Medical AED plus into the trunk of his car.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, is a leading cause of death in the United States claiming more than 250,000 lives each year, according to the Heart Rhythm Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients.
In SCA the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Blood then stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If not treated in minutes, SCA is typically fatal,
An AED is designed to recognize certain cardiac arrhythmias, and corrects them by applying an electrical shock. It also acts as a CPR coach, instructing the rescuer with voice commands.
Jerome Pierson, an interventional cardiologist with Cardiovascular Associates in Sioux City, said studies have shown that a patient is four times more likely to survive cardiac arrest with CPR and the use of an AED, than with CPR alone.
"We know that by simply having (AEDs) available in combination with CPR that you do make a significant improvement in the likelihood of survival of an out of hospital arrest," he said.
Over the years, Woodbury County Chief Deputy Greg Logan said deputies have performed CPR on numerous occasions. In 2005, he said a man suffered a fatal heart attack during a traffic stop in Woodbury County. Having access to an AED in that type of situation could save a life, according to Logan.
"Our personnel are in the field 24-7," he said. "When you're talking about cardiac emergencies, seconds literally count."
The sheriff's office isn't the only law enforcement agency in Siouxland to implement AEDs.
In June of 2002 the Sergeant Bluff Police Department obtained an AED through a state grant. Police Chief Dave McFarland said the department now owns two AEDs, and that officers have used them many times in emergency situations. One person's life was saved due to the AED, according to McFarland.
"We're almost always the first responders to ambulance calls," he said. "We have a volunteer ambulance service, so (officers) are always there first."
Although the Sioux City Police Department has an AED at police headquarters, Sioux City police Lt. Marti Reilly said officers do not have the devices in their squad cars. Reilly said officers usually respond to emergency calls along with the Sioux City Fire Department, which carries AEDs on its fire trucks.
"If we can get a grant or additional funding we may possibly do it," he said.
The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office previously applied for grants to obtain the AEDs, but was unsuccessful in securing funding. Cutting costs in other areas freed up enough money in the budget this year for the sheriff's office to purchase 20 AEDs, which cost around $26,000 total, according to Logan.
"I think it just helps us be a more effective public safety agency to be able to provide this kind of service," he said.
The sheriff's office expects to have all of its deputies on patrol with an AED in the next 90 days.
Cardiac chain of survival
Early recognition and early access -- The sooner your local emergency number is called, the sooner early advanced life support arrives.
Early CPR -- Helps circulate blood that contains oxygen to vital organs until an AED is ready for use or medical personnel arrive.
Early defibrillation -- Most victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest need an electric shock to restore the heart to a regular rhythm. Each minute that defibrillation is delayed the victim's chance of survival decreases by about 10 percent.
Early advanced life support -- Given by trained medical personnel who provide further care and transport the victim to hospital facilities.
Source: American Red Cross.
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deb wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:07 AM:
Mike wrote on Nov 25, 2008 8:16 AM: