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Defibrillators added to county police vehicles

Police officers who get to cardiac victims first will now be able to turn pull defibrillators from their cars and provide help until an ambulance arrives.

The Howard County Police Department has purchased 50 automatic external defibrillators, portable devices with computers that gauge a person's heart rhythm and decide if defibrillation is needed, according to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen.

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The defibrillators were installed in patrol cars this November, with two provided to each patrol squad. They cost a total of $55,850 and were paid for through a fund supplied by illegal assets that have been forfeited to the police, Schroen said.

All of the county's fire engines and ambulances already have the defibrillators, as do numerous schools, libraries, senior and community centers, and other county facilities.

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But Schroen noted that patrolling police officers are already on the road and often are closer to a victim than an ambulance.

"In the moments after a heart attack, every seconds counts," Schroen said. The officers can start treatment and arriving paramedics and emergency medical technicians can then transition into helping the victim.

Officers already know how to use the devices, she said, as they are trained as first responders when going through the police academy and also undergo refresher courses.

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