Portsmouth Regional Hospital Donates AED Units to Seabrook Police
The Seabrook Board of Selectmen were on hand at the Seabrook Emergency Room to accept a donation from Portsmouth Hospital, who donated 8 “AED” units to the Seabrook Police Department. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.
The Seabrook Police Department has AEDs in each of its marked patrol vehicles. While the Seabrook Fire Department is the primary department responsible for responding to medical aid calls, Seabrook Police officers can sometimes be closer to serious medical aid requests when they are out patrolling our streets. Over the years, Seabrook Police officers have deployed the AEDs they carry several times and have had at least one documented save using the AED in 2010.
Seabrook Police Department’s current AEDs were donated in the early 2000’s by Exeter Hospital. Needless to say, the current AEDs are 15+ years old and (for various reasons) are in need of replacement. The Seabrook Police Department has a good working relationship with the Seabrook Emergency Room and turned to them for assistance. The Seabrook Emergency Room administration jumped at the opportunity to outfit the Seabrook Police with eight (8) new Philips AED’s for each of our marked patrol vehicles.
The Board of Selectmen thank Portsmouth Hospital for this generous donation, and recognize the great work by Police Chief Gallagher, and Police Lieutenant Kevin Gelineau in working with Portsmouth Regional Hospital to facilitate this donation.
