FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Flagler County has replaced approximately 20-year-old automated external defibrillators with new devices designed to work directly with equipment carried by Fire Rescue crews.
Some AEDs in outdoor locations, including Wadsworth Park, are stored in locked cabinets. Anyone needing to use one during an emergency must call 911 to receive the access code.
“Having compatible defibrillator pads is significant,” Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker said. “It saves time — and potentially lives — because it eliminates the need of either putting a second set of pads on the patient or replacing the pads altogether so we can hook them up to our monitors.”
Tucker said calling 911 for the cabinet code should fit naturally into requesting emergency medical assistance.
Flagler County Fire Rescue recently assumed responsibility for maintaining the county’s AEDs. The agency will track the devices and replace pads, batteries and other components as needed.
County commissioners approved funding for the replacement equipment after Fire Rescue officials reported that the existing AEDs were about 20 years old.
Fire Rescue will continue evaluating locations that could benefit from additional AEDs as grant or county funding becomes available.
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