August 2, 2014 – Rockville VFD is proud to announce we have purchased and installed automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in three RVFD stations, Station 3 on Hungerford Dr., Station 23 on Rollins Ave. and Station 33 on Falls Rd. The AEDs are designed for public access use in the event of a cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association (AHA) statistics show that rapid CPR and AED use for sudden cardiac arrest can save lives.
RVFD was able to purchase the AEDs using funds provided from the Montgomery County EMS transport fee program. These AEDs are designed to be used by minimally trained or even untrained members of the public using the simple instructions on the AED. All fire/rescue personnel undergo yearly certification in CPR and the use of AEDs. Most fire and rescue apparatus carries an AED for use by the trained personnel. These station AEDs are available for when no fire/rescue units are in the station.
RVFD encourages all members of the public to learn basic CPR and how to apply an AED. Many public facilities, such as malls, airports, stores and office buildings participate in the Maryland Public Access AED program and have AEDs available for public use. To learn more about the program, visit the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems web site. To learn more about the AHA “Hands-Only” CPR method, visit their web site.
