The AED devices were donated to the Department by the Plant City Rotary Club last year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 356,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and about 60% to 80% of them die before reaching the hospital.
Thanks to the Plant City Rotary Club’s generous donation of 52 automated external defibrillators (AEDs), that were placed in each patrol vehicle last year, and the quick reaction of several well-trained Plant City police officers, two Plant City residents, whose names were not released, lived to tell the tale of their cardiac arrests.
In one instance, Officers Dustin Colkmire and Francisco Rosales responded to a call on Dec. 17 that an elderly woman was thought to have passed away at the Madison Park Road apartment complex. Upon arriving on the scene, they assessed the situation and decided to administer CPR, which ultimately saved the life of the woman, who was taken to the hospital for additional care and treatment. Colkmire and Rosales were awarded the Plant City Police Department (PCPD) LIfe Saving Award for their act of service.
In another instance during the same shift, the same officers once again responded to a call about a possible drug overdose. When they arrived at the scene, near the 2000 block of Airport Road, they located the woman, who was unresponsive and not breathing. Once again, they decided to administer CPR.
“Their quick assessment of the situation and their decision to administer CPR ultimately saved the life of the individuals,” PCPD Captain Van Duyne said. “Because of their dedication and commitment, the residents were able to be taken to the appropriate facility for additional care and attention. Their actions make us proud to have them as members of the Plant City Police Department.”
Last year’s AED donation, valued at $92,000, was the second time in the past nine years that the Rotary Club had provided PCPD with the lifesaving euipment.
Past-President Shawn Jemison said that when PCPD Chief James Bradford came to the group last year and told them the units were outdated and could no longer be serviced, the organization was quick to replace them.
“We had a fellow Rotarian whose life had been saved by an AED so it was something we witnessed firstand,” said Jemison. “In talking with Chief Bradford we could see how imperitive it was for officers to have them in their patrol vehicles because they’re usually on-site before paramedics can arrive.”
Jemison is appreciative of the community’s support of its fundraisers that made the donation possible. “This is the reason we do it,” he said. “We’re giving back to make sure if and when officers are in that life-saving situation, they have the equipment to save lives, like they did in December.”
At the awards ceremony where Colkmire and Rosales were recognized, Sergeant Chad Carpenter, Corporal Christian Lopez and Officers John Amole, Dustin Colkmire, Austin Johnson, Cleefton Pierre and Francisco Rosales were awarded the PCPD Certificate of Employee Recognition for intervening in an incident where a citizen was in distress and wanted to take her own life.
Well, done, officers.
