District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry and Escambia County Public Safety will host a meeting Tuesday, May 31 at 6 p.m. for groups or individuals interested in purchasing an automated external defibrillator for their church or business at a potentially reduced cost. The meeting will take place at the Walnut Hill Fire Station, located at 7760 Highway 97. Escambia County Public Safety Director Mike Weaver will be available to answer questions about purchasing an AED at the same cost the county received during its last bid solicitation and provide information about AED kit options and available warranty programs. An AED will be available to view at the meeting.
An automated external defibrillator is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can stop an irregular heart rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abrupt loss of heart function. If it’s not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.
AEDs are important because they make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. Because AEDs are portable, they can be used by anyone who has been trained how to use them – not only by medical professionals. They can be made part of emergency response programs that also include rapid use of 9-1-1 and prompt delivery of CPR. All three of these activities are vital to improving survival from cardiac arrest.
For more information, contact Escambia County Public Safety at (850) 471-6400. To learn more about AEDs, click here.
