CULLMAN, Alabama. – The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the Cullman County Commission recently made what the CCSO called a “significant investment” in the lives of Cullman County residents. The CCSO partnered with Birmingham-based Cardiac Solutions to provide the Sheriff’s Office with life-saving equipment.
A press release from Sheriff Matt Gentry said Gentry purchased 80 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from Cardiac Solutions.
According to Cullman County Executive John Bullard, the total cost for all AEDs, setup, maintenance and warranty is $333,060. “This will be paid for largely with opioid response funds. The first installment of $25,000 has already been paid by the Sheriff’s Department, and the opioid funds will continue from there,” he said. At the Cullman County Commission meeting on March 19, “the commission approved the use of funds from the opioid settlement to install AED devices in select senior centers and patrol/first responder vehicles.”
“This will allow every patrol officer and school resource officer to carry the equipment in their vehicle. Additionally, AEDs will be available throughout the sheriff’s office and jail. The remaining devices will be placed in all-day senior centers throughout Cullman County,” the press release said.
Cardiac Solutions will reportedly provide the necessary training to ensure everyone can use the devices effectively. According to the CCSO, Cardiac Solutions is the only company that can offer “24/7 remote camera monitoring, 365 days a year.”
“The safety of the (residents) of Cullman County has always been the top priority of the Sheriff’s Office. Keeping people alive is obviously a big part of that. Our deputies are the first responders; they’re the first on the scene of accidents, assaults and other types of injury-related incidents,” Gentry said. “It’s their job to secure the scene and keep everyone alive until medical personnel arrive. I want to personally thank the Cullman County Commission for working with us and helping us make this possible. These AEDs are a wonderful tool that will save lives and hopefully give our (residents) a little more peace of mind.”
Jon Seale, CEO of Cardiac Solutions, expressed his support for the CCSO, saying, “The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office’s (sic) commitment to safety and readiness is commendable. Equipping vehicles and public spaces with AEDs and remote AED camera monitoring is a critical step in improving survival rates in cardiac emergencies. We are proud to partner with Sheriff Gentry and the Cullman County Commissioners on this life-saving endeavor.”
The AEDs are currently at the CCSO and will be issued to officers once they have received the necessary training.
