Bristol Borough Fire Company Upgrades Life Sustaining Device

Bristol Borough Fire Company recently acquired an upgrade to their life saving and sustaining equipment with the addition of a  new and improved Automated External Defibrillator (AED.)

Designed for sudden cardiac events, the new device is lighter, easier to use, and only requires one first responder to work it, thus freeing another emergency worker for other needed duties.

Bristol Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack, during training for volunteers, said, “This A.E.D is state of the art, emergency personnel throughout the county use it because of it ease of of use and the new life saving machines ability to instruct even the most novice of users to successfully use it in an emergency situation.”

Made by Phillips the Bi Phasic also allows for adjustments in the electrical current dependent upon the given weight of the individual in crisis.

Slack said the price for the device recently came down significantly, from about $3,000 to $1,500,  so the station applied for a grant through the EMSOF – Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, which comes from the collection of parking ticket fees throughout the commonwealth and were able to purchase and add the device to its life saving arsenal of equipment.

The new device, which will be carried on the Wood Street fire company’s three emergency vehicles, includes a large key to easily set the device for use on infants. The key is used in the shape of Teddy bear in an effort to make the AED easy to use.

Slack said the fire company responded to over 200 medical calls last year.