During the Tuesday night Board of Fire Commissioner’s meeting, members of the East Pierce Fire and Rescue Foundation presented a $3,250 check to East Pierce Fire and Rescue to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of fire department’s Law Enforcement AED program. The AEDs purchased will be used by the Pierce County Sheriffs Deputies assigned to the Foothills Division. Once the deputies are trained and equipped in early October, the fire department will have used grants and donations to provide these life-saving devices to all five law enforcement departments within its 151-square-mile jurisdiction.

According to East Pierce Assistant Chief Russ McCallion, other fire departments have similar AED programs with law enforcement, but East Pierce is the only fire department in Washington State to equip 100 percent of law enforcement officers with the devices. “We wish to thank the Foundation for helping us complete this important program,” he says.

AEDs are used to provide a “shock” to patients who are in cardiac arrest. “Since law officers are out patrolling the neighborhoods, they often arrive on scene before we do,” says East Pierce Medical Services Officer, Battalion Chief Jeff Moore. “The AED gives them the opportunity to start life-saving measures right away. Providing officers with an AED saves minutes when minutes are critical.”

Earlier this year, East Pierce supplied AEDs to 28 Bonney Lake patrol officers, as well as the department’s marine unit. East Pierce has already equipped police officers in Edgewood, Milton and Sumner with AEDs. As part of the program, the fire department provides the officers with annual CPR training and refresher courses, plus medical direction and case reviews when the AEDs are deployed.

For two years in a row, East Pierce Fire received the national Heart Safe Community Award from the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) EMS Section and Physio-Control, Inc. for its efforts to improve cardiac arrest survivability. The annual award recognizes organizations with creative approaches to implementing and maintaining systems to prevent and treat cardiac-related diseases within their

The East Pierce Fire and Rescue Foundation was launched in 2013 as a non-profit organization to improve the lives of the citizens in the East Pierce service area through compassionate outreach services and access to public safety education programs. “In partnership with the fire department, it’s our mission to help create a safer community,” said Foundation Treasurer Duane Bratvold when he presented the check to East Pierce Fire Chief Jerry E. Thorson on Tuesday.

To date, the Foundation has donated more than $6,500 to the fire department as part of its Healthy Hearts Initiative, which includes the AEDs and helping to offset the hard costs of the citizen CPR classes taught by the firefighters. Other initiatives include providing smoke alarms for East Pierce firefighters to install in high-risk homes free of charge and funding the Sentimental Journey Program, a cooperative effort with the Foundation, the fire department and MultiCare/Good Samaritan Home Health and Hospice to provide one last ride somewhere special to hospice patients.

For information about how to purchase an AED for a business, church or organization, contact Moore or McCallion at 253-863-1800 during business hours.