Ridgefield police officers pose with 14 AEDs received from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded the Ridgefield Police Department a grant for 15 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to have in police cars and city buildings. An AED is a sophisticated but easy to use medical device designed to help someone who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
In 2017, a student at nearby La Center High School, located in Clark County, began experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The local fire department and police department were present at the high school for an unrelated event. Both had functioning AEDs and were able to save the life of the student before additional emergency personnel arrived. Had the police and fire departments not had AEDs, the outcome could have been tragically different. Since the incident, the City of Ridgefield has made equipping the police department and City facilities with AEDs a priority.
In 2017, the department received 10 call requests for AEDs. At the time, the department had only one AED and was not able to provide assistance at all of the calls. The acquisition of the additional AEDs will allow the department to quickly and efficiently respond to all AED related calls, as every patrol car will be equipped with one.
— City of Ridgefield
