South Tahoe police to be armed with defibrillators

By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe residents going into cardiac arrest are about to have a greater chance of survival because more people patrolling the streets are getting trained how to use defibrillators.

The police department spent $10,752.86 on 10 automated external defibrillators for officers.

“It’s important to save lives. We’ve had occasions where cops initiated CPR,” Police Chief Brian Uhler told Lake Tahoe News. “This tool is very important to help improve the chances for survival when a person has a sudden cardiac arrest.”

Officers are undergoing training on the apparatus. Before they are put to use the El Dorado County medical director must give final approval.

Officers across the country have been using the medical device for years. Studies show the survival rate dwindles by 10 percent each minute after cardiac arrest begins when the patient does not receive defibrillation.

With police officers often being the first to a scene, the theory is lives will be saved with them having defibrillators instead of waiting for an ambulance.