By Mark Ambrogi
The Zionsville Fire Department wants to make sure there are as many automated external defibrillators in the community as possible.
So ZFD partnered with the Zionsville Police Dept. to buy three AEDs for police vehicles. Now, all ZFD and ZPD vehicles are equipped with an AED, which will allow whichever emergency responder who arrives first to begin lifesaving treatment, if needed.
“According to the American Heart Association, early defibrillator is the best treatment for cardiac arrest,” ZFD EMS Division Chief Steve Gilliam said. “The sooner we can get a defibrillator started on the adult patient, the better their chances of survival are.”
The new AEDs cost $1,500 each and were purchased through the ZPD supplies budget and funds raised by the firefighters teaching CPR courses.
“Our CPR fund is a revolving fund that we have to do things like this, to be able to put more AEDs in the community,” Gilliam said. “(The fund) for the most part covers the cost of teaching the courses and mannequin upkeep. The extra (money) we do make we try to put back in the community. In the past, we’ve donated AEDs to Lions Park or the Lions Club. Previously, we’ve donated other AEDs to the police department as well.”
The fire department teaches all levels of CPR.
“The biggest reason is to keep our staff trained,” Gilliam said. “We also have businesses and other groups that are required to have CPR and we teach those courses to them.”
For more information on the CPR classes, visit www.zionsville-in.gov/town-services/fire-department/services/cpr-first-aid-classes/.
