Life-Saving Heart Devices Distributed to Communities

Several communities in the Central Oklahoma region received automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in August, to be used for emergencies involving cardiac arrest. The devices were granted through a program designed to save lives in rural areas of the state, which ranks second in the nation in cardiovascular deaths.

ACOG served as a regional administrator for the program, accepting applications from local communities earlier this summer. The devices were funded directly by a $240,000 federal grant from the Health Resources Services Administration. The Oklahoma State Department of Health and the American Heart Association (OSDH) have purchased over 200 AEDs to be distributed statewide through the 11 councils of government of the Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils.

Based on federal grant criteria, only certain zip codes within Logan and Canadian counties were eligible to receive the donated devices.

Entities receiving the units in Central Oklahoma included the Richland Rural Fire Protection District, Mulhall Fire Department, Union City Police Department, Piedmont Police Department, Calumet Volunteer Fire Department, Crescent Ambulance, Woodcrest Fire Department and Sooner Volunteer Fire Department.

The devices are designed to be utilized by non-medical personnel, such as police officers and firefighters. If placed in 24-hour radio-dispatched mobile units, the AEDs are particularly effective in responding to medical emergencies by simply being readily available. The devices average in price at about $2,000, which has prevented many small rural communities from purchasing them.

“We were pleased to take part in administering this program that will help save lives in critical situations,” said ACOG Executive Director Zach D. Taylor. “We believe that the AEDs will help fortify first responder emergency medical service to rural communities in our region,” he added.