By Tricia Scruggs
Published:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:02 PM CST
Kaufman County leaders are eyeing the possibility of adding life-saving equipment to government offices.
The Commissioner’s Court watched an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) demonstration Monday and discussed the machines’ benefits and how they work.
Kathy Morris, who coordinates emergency readiness for the county, said the prospect of purchasing the AED’s evolved from a conversation with another employee who said maintaining the devices is now common among local governing bodies.
Sixteen may be purchased, including one for each floor of the Kaufman County Courthouse and the sub-courthouses in Kaufman, Forney, Kemp and Terrell. Currently there is an AED in the detention area at the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, but none in personnel work spaces.
The AEDs under consideration are housed in small, black carrying cases - about the size of a laptop computer - and allows trained users to administer an electric shock in the event of cardiac arrest. After the AED analyzes the victim, checking the heart rhythm to determine whether or not a shock is necessary, audible prompts give step-by-step instructions.
If the court approves the measure, it may acquire the same brand used by area hospitals and the East Texas Medical Center’s fleet of ambulances.
“The reason that’s good is because they can just come in and use what we’ve got,” Morris told the court.
According to the American Heart Association, most AED’s cost $1,500 to $2,000 and along with CPR, defibrillation within three to five minutes after a person collapses can increase the chances of survival by more than 50 percent.
“AEDs help to preserve the heart muscle, which can give caregivers greater treatment options,” said Krista Baty, chief nurse executive at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Kaufman.
Emergency services personnel who attended Monday’s meeting confirmed the effectiveness of the AEDs.
Lt. T.T. Atkins with Dallas Fire Rescue shared statistics with the court, saying he’s aware of five survivors whose lives were extended in part thanks to an onsite AED.
“I can attest to the fact that these things do work,” he said.
Officials said the court will hear specifics on cost at a future meeting and also will look for grants that might help fund the expense.
