RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Rutherford County emergency responders will provide quicker treatment for heart attack victims, thanks to a grant from the Christy-Houston Foundation and contributions from the county government.

The Christy-Houston Foundation and Rutherford County government each funded half of the $302,288 cost to purchase 147 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). These AEDs will be placed in Rutherford County Sheriff’s vehicles, fire engines and trucks of Rutherford County Fire-Rescue, and response vehicles of the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency.

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh stated that deputies can use the AEDs to begin immediate treatment for heart attack victims until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics take over. “Since deputies are always actively patrolling throughout the county, the likelihood of a deputy’s quicker response to a person suffering from a serious cardiac event could be considerably higher,” Fitzhugh said.

EMS Director Brian Gaither added that studies show the chance of restarting the heart decreases by about 10 percent every minute after a sudden cardiac arrest. “If the deputy arrives first, it helps when they start using equipment to save lives,” Gaither said.

Access to AEDs as soon as possible is crucial for increasing survival rates. Studies indicate that as many as 40,000 victims are saved each year with the use of AEDs.

Mayor Joe Carr emphasized that this project will ensure every emergency response vehicle in Rutherford County is equipped with an AED, thereby maximizing survival chances for individuals facing cardiac arrest. “Rutherford County’s public safety goal is to assist in maintaining the quality of life our community desires and deserves,” Carr said.

Carr, Fitzhugh, Fire Chief Larry Farley, Public Safety Director Chris Clark, and Gaither expressed their gratitude to the Christy-Houston Foundation for the grant and their ongoing support of Rutherford County residents.