 | | | Darrell Lee with AED Lifepak Photo Cathy Dausman | | | | | | Eight new automated external defibrillators valued in excess of $20,000 were delivered to the Moraga and Orinda police departments, four each, during presentations at two recent council meetings. An AED is a portable device that can be used for treatment during sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack). It produces a shock if needed to help restore the heart to normal rhythm. The Lifepak model 1000 AEDs were a gift from Rescue One Foundation.
Moraga-Orinda Fire District division chief Darrell Lee addressed the Moraga Town Council at its April 23 meeting. "When I started as a paramedic 34 years ago, there was no AED," he said. Then in 1997 MOFD paramedics began the first county partnership with local law enforcement officers in Moraga and Orinda, offering AED training. Since then Lamorinda police have used the AEDs on many occasions, and two Moraga police officers are credited with using an AED to help save the life of a cardiac arrest victim.
"I am extremely thankful for the donation," said Moraga's police chief, Bob Priebe, in email comments. "The technologically upgraded AEDs will help us continue to serve our community and save lives. With the one documented AED life-saving incident experienced by MPD, we know the value of this incredible tool," he added.
Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel added his thanks to Rescue One. "On some occasions, police are first to respond on a call involving sudden cardiac arrest," Nagel said via email. "Every minute that passes increases the likelihood of brain damage or death to the victim. It's reassuring that officers have state of the art equipment allowing them to apply life saving measures as soon as possible," he said.
Rescue One president Gordon Nathan was at Lee's side during the Moraga presentation. "It takes a while to raise that kind of money," Nathan said, but "it was a real pleasure" making the donation.
AEDs are now available in public places throughout Lamorinda. Pulse Point lists more than 50 AEDs located at sites that include schools, churches, libraries, fitness clubs, and businesses. Many of those organizations have more than one unit. Using an AED now is simple because the machine talks its user through the entire process, step by step, and volunteers can be alerted when their help is needed by subscribing to the PulsePoint app. When paramedics are dispatched to treat a heart attack victim a notification is sent to CPR-trained PulsePoint subscribers willing to assist via their smartphones. Notifications are only made if the victim is in a public place and only to potential rescuers in the immediate vicinity, primarily within walking distance.
The LP 1000 AEDs are equipped with the newest operating protocols and energy delivery and are particularly suited to survive rough handling in the field, but the older AED models are still serviceable. Now that the police departments have new AEDs, the older devices will be placed at locations around Lamorinda that are currently without an AED. Lee considers the older AEDs "placeholders," to be used until additional funds can be raised and more new models can be purchased.
Learn to use an AED; watch this You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtlbTe_fGTE.
Rescue One, established in 1977, is California's first citizen-inspired foundation working to support a fire district/paramedic program. To learn more about Rescue One, visit http://www.mofd.org/about/rescueone.
PulsePoint http://pulsepoint.org/app/#sthash.UUe5Qowi.dpuf is available for download in the Apple App Store or in Android Apps on Google Play.
(Read the related article about the PulsePoint app in our archive, https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0720/Information-Age-Emergency-Monitoring.html.)
Lamorinda AED Locations
Acalanes High School (3)
Acalanes Union High School District
24 Hour Fitness, Moraga
California Insurance Center
Campolindo High School (4)
Canyon Post Office
Lafayette Community Center (3)
Core Kinetics, Orinda
EBMUD (5)
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church
Lafayette Care Center
Miramonte High School (3)
Moraga Country Club (2)
Moraga Police Department
Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church
Oakwood Athletic Club (3)
Orinda Community Center
Orinda Country Club (5)
Orinda Library
Orinda Senior Village
Orinda Woods
Pine Grove Office Complex (3)
St. Mary's College (4)
St Monica Catholic Church
St. Perpetua Catholic Church (2)
Temple Isaiah
Town Hall Theater
Wagner Ranch School
(Partial list; information provided by PulsePoint)
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA