COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho- The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received $17,000 to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on Feb. 8, which will be used by deputies to aid people experiencing cardiac arrest.
The donation from Northwest Specialty Hospital and StanCraft will allow the sheriff’s office to purchase 12 AEDs.
The devices, which are used during cardiac emergencies, are effective but expensive. The fact that an AED costs over a thousand dollars has limited their proliferation in public areas and amongst law enforcement.
Despite their cost, emergency medical personnel argue that they are a critical component in reducing deaths from cardiac arrest. Kootenai County Fire and Rescue asserts that they should be in every place of work.
“While CPR increases the chance of survival, an AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest,” a statement on the department’s website said.
Lieutenant Zachary Sifford thanked the businesses who donated the funds, and anticipates that the equipment will be used by the sheriff’s office in the near future.
