When it comes to cardiac arrest, often times minutes — or even seconds — can be the difference between life and death.
Over 690,000 Americans lost their lives to heart disease in 2020 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cardiac arrest, with its sudden onset and limited window for emergency medical intervention, is particularly deadly, with only one out of nine people surviving an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Not to be confused with a heart attack, cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction that disrupts blood flow to the brain and vital organs.
With every minute so precious, Sedona Police Department officers are ahead of most departments as they have 10 automated external defibrillators — better known as AEDs — distributed among their patrol vehicles. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, the department added two more thanks to a grant through the Arizona Community Foundation. Each AED can cost around $1,400.
Brandon Griffith is CEO of Griffith Blue Heart, a nonprofit organization designed to prepare, train and equip law enforcement for resuscitation emergencies. They have done work with the Sedona Police Department, as well as with numerous other departments throughout the state, by assisting them with obtaining grants for the purchase of AEDs.
Griffith knows first hand the importance of life-savings equipment like AEDs.
“I’m a police officer and cardiac arrest survivor,” he said. “At the age of 26 I dropped dead. I wish I could say it happened on duty or doing something cool but I was at home reading a book. I collapsed in my home. My wife was able to do CPR on me and a fellow officer arrived but he didn’t have an AED to shock me out of it. Fire got there about 10 minutes later. In all, I was medically dead for about 17 minutes.”
That was when he realized how unprepared law enforcement is, especially considering police are often at a scene before fire and medical crews. But that unpreparedness is not uncommon, he said, as less than 15% of agencies across the country have AEDs in their patrol cars.
“We’re just so happy to support you guys,” Arizona Community Foundation’s Jennifer Perry said during the presentation. “I hope you know that the Arizona Community Foundation is always here to support you. We’ve done this throughout the Verde Valley so we’re your partner to help get the tools and equipment you need to support our community.”
Sedona Fire District Capt. Josh Wells was acknowledged by Griffith for his part over the last few years in training and assisting with grants. SFD also donated AEDs no longer in use for training purposes for Griffith Blue Heart.
“I’ve run the AED program and led the CPR for years trying to make a difference and it’s hard to find something that has had so many positive results in such a short amount of time,” Wells said. “As mentioned, it’s such a time-sensitive emergency. If you guys can get there, start CPR and the AED, you can make a big difference.”
SPD Chief Charles Husted said he and his department are thankful for the efforts of Griffith Blue Heart, ACF and SFD.
“To have all you guys in our corner, helping us and bringing this stuff to the table, we recognize that as a huge benefit and are so thankful that you’ve taken this on,” he said. “It’s about saving lives, serving others and protecting our community in ways that have nothing to do with arresting people. Like you said, we can be there quickly, often times, and fire is right behind, thankfully, to take over. But those few seconds or minutes matter.”
