The defibrillator first monitors the victim's heart beat, then audibly commands whether and how to apply the electric shock to restore a normal beat. In a Miami study, giving the devices to police in addition to emergency-service crews doubled the survival rate. The police were often first on the scene and could normalize the victim's heart beat in the first few minutes. The American Heart Association predicts widespread use of the devices could save 50,000 lives a year. In Boston, the police department has about a dozen defibrillators on order, enough for one for each district, with more planned.
Many city buildings are also equipped.
But just about one-sixth of surrounding communities have equipped their police, which is why Jajuga's bill should pass. Communities could use funds from the state's Community Policing program, draw on other state aid, or dip into their own revenues. It would be money well spent.