Crete Gets 6 AEDs Via Grant

Thanks to a grant application submitted by Crete Fire Captain Jim Boehner, the department was able to secure funding for six Automated External Defibrillator (AED) units.

The base AED model is designed to be user-friendly and provide emergency care for individuals experiencing an irregular heart rhythm, which could result in cardiac arrest. This unit has been installed at Crete Village Hall, and staff have been trained to used it.

“If somebody comes in for Village business and something happens, the staff can start care before we get there, in case we’re out on a call,” Crete Fire Chief Michael Waterman said.

The grant also covers an additional five, more advanced devices:

“For our first line suppression equipment and utility vehicles, and it allows us to actually monitor the cardiac rhythm the patient is in. That will allow our first responders to get an idea what is happening,” said Crete Fire Captain, Jim Boehner.

AED equipment is typically only found in ambulances, which may not always arrive first at the scene. With AEDs available to first responders, precious minutes can be allocated to diagnosing and treating patients, according to Chief Waterman:

“Deploying defibrillation and CPR quickly, increases patient survival rate and that’s what we want to accomplish.”