The Belle Plaine Police Department announced today that they have acquired two HeartStart FRx Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the department to use in vehicles, enabling them to assist victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming approximately 295,000(i) lives each year.

The AED’s were purchased using grant money obtained from the Benton County Community Foundation.

Since officers are often first to arrive at the scene of a cardiac emergency, it is crucial to have immediate access to an AED in the event the victim is experiencing SCA.  Defibrillation is recognized as the definitive treatment for ventricular fibrillation, the abnormal heart rhythm most often associated with SCA.  While CPR may help prolong the window of survival, it cannot restore a normal cardiac rhythm.  For every minute that goes by without defibrillation, a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival decreases by about 10 percent.  After 10 minutes without defibrillation, few attempts at resuscitation are successful.

According to Chief Kris Hudson, “Our mission is to prevent the loss of life and because we are often the first to arrive at emergencies — including medical emergencies — our ability to take lifesaving action is vital.  Having an AED in each of our patrol vehicles will enhance the service our police officers can provide to the community.”

An AED automatically detects potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias and can be used to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy that stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.  The HeartStart FRx AED provides clear, calm voice commands to guide users through every step of the defibrillation process, including CPR coaching.  The FRx is designed to handle extreme weather conditions and to be used successfully by responders, such as police officers, who are not medical professionals.