The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has been dedicated to equipping all agency patrol vehicles with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) since 2014. With the help of a grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the agency is now more than halfway past the goal.
On October 24, 2016 around 5:30 at night, there was a 911 call from a local business about a 54 year old man who had stopped breathing and was lying unconscious inside the building. Deputy Jon Timpe was the first to arrive on scene, he immediately checked for a pulse and breathing. The victim was unresponsive so Timpe connected the man to an AED and began CPR. Another officer arrived and the two deputies began administering two-person CPR, completing four rotations when the AED indicated shocks were needed. The AED administered three resuscitating shocks to the patient and then rescue arrived on scene and continued lifesaving efforts. After three additional shocks from the AED, together the two officers and paramedics were able to stabilize the patient. He began breathing on his own again, was transported to the hospital, received a heart catheter and was later released for a full recovery.
“Had our officer not had an AED in his patrol vehicle, the chances of survival for this citizen would have been greatly decreased. Thank you to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for helping equip our deputies with lifesaving equipment to continue in keeping our community safe!”
–Sheriff Rick Beseler, Clay County Sheriff’s Office