Murfreesboro Police Department Equips Patrol Vehicles With AEDs

The Murfreesboro Police Department is equipping its patrol cars with a device that could save lives in a heartbeat.

All patrol cars will have Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs on hand for emergencies.

“The person who arrives on the scene first is the best person to start life-saving treatment since every second counts,” Administrative Division Captain Don Fanning said. “Whether it’s an officer, firefighter, paramedic or an emergency medical technician.”

As part of their in-service training, officers undergo CPR and AED training every two years.

“It’s about keeping people alive,” Fanning said. “Minutes make a difference when someone’s having a heart attack. CPR buys time, and AEDs save lives. Officers now have the power to save lives right in their patrol car.”

An AED is an easy-to-use medical device designed to help a person who may be experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. With the press of a button, the machine automatically analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, it will deliver an electrical shock to help re-establish an effective heart rhythm.

The first set of cruisers was equipped with AEDs in mid-April.

The goal is to issue all uniformed officers an AED by the end of the year.