DEERFIELD — The Deerfield Police Department put new defibrillators into service this week for its cruisers, replacing some that were more than 15 years old.
Officer Adam Sokoloski said 11 defibrillators were purchased as part of a capital improvement request passed at the annual Town Meeting, which were also installed in the police station, library, Senior Center, Department of Public Works and Town Hall.
“We’ve had good success of being able to get early defibrillation and intervention by having the cruisers equipped with defibrillators out on the street,” Sokoloski said. “Being able to have up-to-date equipment we know we can rely on for the next eight years or so has been a priority, and to have it quickly available for use on the street or in public places.”
The units cost a total of $21,800, and Sokoloski said local plastics maker Pelican Products donated all the cases for the cruisers. The devices are compatible with equipment used by South County EMS, so emergency personnel can plug their advanced medical equipment into the same pads that are already being used on a patient.
The devices mounted in public places also have easy-to-read CPR/AED instructions posted above them.