September 24, 2007
Press Release

BCSO deputy assists ill resident

Just recently, a Thaxton resident called 911 thinking he was experiencing a heart attack. Deputy Christian Stoneman arrived on the scene within two minutes, with AED in hand expecting to find the resident in cardiac arrest. Luckily, he was coherent and Deputy Stoneman was able to talk to him, keep him alert and gather important medical information from the victim, then relay it to EMTs while they were in route so they were completely prepared to treat the man upon arrival.

AED’s--Automated External Defibrillators--are laptop size instruments which analyze the heart’s rhythm for any abnormalities and, if necessary, direct the rescuer to deliver an electric shock to a victim. The shock, called defibrillation, May help the heart to establish an effective rhythm of its own.

Sheriff Mike Brown reminds the County’s citizens that all of the Bedford Sheriff Department cruisers are equipped with the AED’s. According to the Sheriff, Robin Sundquist--the Department’s Grants Application Manager and County Medical Examiner Dr. Lilly--also a Department Tactical Team member--were responsible for securing the units through grants received from Cintas First Aid & Safety, and Lewis Gale organizations, respectively.

“There is no telling how many lives will be saved as a result of our Department’s ability to assist in cases such as this, if we are the closest agency to respond, and take immediate action,” the Sheriff said. All of the Department’s road deputies have completed a one-day training course, conducted by a representative of the company which manufactures the equipment.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) kills more than 400,000 people per year!