The Farmington Police Department recently received 11 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of a grant administered by the University of Minnesota Medical School Center for Resuscitation Medicine.

Last year, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced that they were providing a grant in excess of $18 million dollars to the U of M Medical School.  The grant was to provide more than 8,300 AED’s to law enforcement and other first responders throughout Minnesota.  The Farmington Police Department received 11 such devices as part of this grant.

Studies have shown that AEDs should be applied within the first three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest to ensure the best possible outcome.  These AEDs connect to Wi-Fi and transmit the data of their usage to the manufacturer, who sends us new pads automatically.  The program lasts for 8 years, and the AEDs are under warranty for that period and pads and batteries are covered that long as well.  The pads are also compatible with the Lifepak that our Allina Paramedics use, so pads will not need to be swapped out during life-saving operations.

Prior to the award of this grant, and as part of our CIP process, the Farmington Police Department replaced the AEDs in our patrol vehicles.  With the receipt of the grant AEDs, the others have been placed in non-patrol (investigations and administration) vehicles.  We are placing AEDs in the following city buildings that did not have them including: City Hall (upstairs), Police Department, PD Fitness room, both Fire Stations, Central Maintenance and the First Street Garage.

There is no cost to participate in this grant.  With the AED pads and batteries being supplied for 8 years, this will prevent the city from having to pay for them so it will have a positive impact on the budget.

Adopt the resolution accepting the donation of 11 AEDs, valued at $17,600 from the University of Minnesota Medical School Center for Resuscitation Medicine and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.