The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received several new vital pieces of equipment recently.

Four new AED’s (automated external defibrillator), were added to ECSO patrol units.

An AED is a lightweight, battery-operated, portable device that checks the heart’s rhythm and sends a shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

The device is used to help people having sudden cardiac arrest.

If needed, the electrodes deliver the shock.

Most law enforcement agencies are supplying patrol units with these devices.

“The AED units will serve as a vital piece of equipment to the department. We never know what kind of situation we are always rolling up on and there are several situations in which that we are the first on the scene. The AED’s will play a vital part into helping to protect our citizens and it will help give them a piece of mind. Our personnel work a variety of community functions such as sports games and you never know what could happen,” Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said.

Four AED machines were purchased from AED Brands located in Ga..

They cost normally $1,100.00 per unit.

The Sheriff’s Office was able to purchase them with a discount at the cost of $749.00 a unit.

“We have 26 patrol cars at this point. Our goal is to outfit every patrol unit with an AED. We will be working on reaching that goal and have 26 AED’s, one for every patrol unit,” Lambert said.

This is just another added feature the Sheriff’s Office has placed in patrol units and the like to benefit residents’ health.

Earlier this year, the So placed Narcan in patrol vehicles and fire trucks throughout the county, after an exceptional amount of drug overdoses in 2017.