AEDs to be carried in some police cars

The department hopes to secure donations to buy more of the devices.

staff report

BOARDMAN — The odds of not dying from cardiac arrest in the township just got a little better.

Boardman Township Trustees approved a request by Police Chief Patrick Berarducci to buy 10 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be carried in front-line police cars. The funding is coming from seized drug money returned to the department.

Sudden death from cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Every year, 95,000 people die before they reach the hospital — before definitive care reaches them.

“Drug dealers have robbed this country of an entire generation,” Berarducci said, “Now their ill-gotten gains will be used to restore life — it doesn’t get any better than that.”

The men of Boardman Firefighters Local 1176, the union representing township firefighters, agree. They are the designated first responders for the township when advanced medical care is needed by citizens.

“Every second that can be saved in deploying an AED provides that much better chance for survival — which is what we all want,” said Harry Wolfe, union president.

Berarducci contacted Guido Jannetti Jr., director of service operations for the Mahoning County chapter of the American Red Cross, when he learned that using CPR alone provides a 3 percent to 4 percent chance of survival but when used with an AED, the chance of survival increases to 34 percent.

“I joined 56 of my officers and staff as we partnered with the Red Cross last month to learn CPR and AED,” the chief said. “Automated External Defibrillators diagnose certain cardiac rhythms in full arrest victims and give rescuers the ability to convert the rhythm and save lives.”

The officers were trained by certified Red Cross instructors and are able to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, perform CPR on a person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest, minimize the effects of shock, care for someone who is choking and use AEDs.

“These officers and staff sweated through five hours of hands-on training. It’s that important and the Boardman Police Department is that serious about it.”

The police department is working on getting an AED in every cruiser, Berarducci said, adding that the department will need 40 units at an approximate cost of $60,000.

“Police cars throughout the country are equipped with rifles, shotguns and other types of high-tech law enforcement equipment designed to take a life or respond to crime,” he said. “Now we’re working toward equipping them with the ability to save a life. It makes perfect sense.”

Berarducci is hoping for community support through donations and sponsorships — but he will tap into money already confiscated from drug dealers that’s kept in a special fund to buy the first 10 units. Each donation made will be acknowledged by the chief and can be sent to Chief of Police, Boardman Police Department, 8299 Market St., Boardman Ohio 44512.