TCSO Donating AEDs To Schools, Local Police Departments

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Several municipal police departments across Tuscaloosa County, along with the Tuscaloosa County School System will soon be on the receiving end of some valuable equipment capable of saving lives.

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday requested approval of the Tuscaloosa County Commission to donate 27 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, while donating eight to the Brookwood Police Department, five to the Vance Police Department, four to the Coaling Police Department and another four for the Lake View Police Department.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Byron Waid said all but two of the sheriff's office's older AEDs were able to be repurposed, as the county budgeted $400,000 in October to purchase updated Lucas 3 chest compression systems and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for each county department.

Sheriff Ron Abernathy has been the most vocal proponent of incorporating AEDs into county emergency vehicles, as his deputies are often the first to arrive on a scene where more advanced medical technology is needed.

Waid also pointed out that 220 county employees have already received training on the AEDs, with more training sessions being planned.

District 1 Commissioner Stan Acker praised the sheriff's office for spearheading the initiative to find a useful home for the older AEDs.

"That’s putting a lot of AEDs out in these police departments in various little communities around the county, not to mention the huge numbers going into the schools," he said. "Someone’s life is going to be saved because of these things going out."

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