UH Parma Medical Center’s EMS Institute Arms Seven Hills Police with Life-Saving Equipment and Training

Police officers may be the first on the scene in an emergency. In cases where a victim is suffering from cardiac arrest or critical bleeding, University Hospitals Parma Medical Center’s EMS Training & Disaster Preparedness Institute wants to ensure that the police also are well equipped to handle medical emergencies until EMS arrives.

UH Parma Medical Center recently donated two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and 16 bleeding control kits to the Seven Hills Police Department, one for every officer on the department. EMS instructors also trained police officers and the department secretaries on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AEDs and application of tourniquets and other procedures to control bleeding.

“Police Departments are often the first personnel to arrive at an emergency,” says Joe Toth, Manager of the EMS Training & Disaster Preparedness Institute at UH Parma Medical Center. “Properly trained and equipped officers can begin treating victims prior to the ambulance arrival. Early access to CPR, AED, and 9-1-1 is critical for individuals in cardiac arrest and greatly improves positive outcomes.”

Seven Hills Police Chief Michael Salloum contacted Toth to help the city replace AEDs that were expired and no longer functional. The Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation covered the cost of the new AEDs, and the UH EMS Institute conducted training over several days.

Lt. Dan Kappus of the Seven Hills Police Department said the officers, who go to the scene of medical emergencies with cardiac arrest or serious injuries with traumatic bleeding are now equipped to handle these situations.

“We want to be prepared for those what-ifs,” Lt. Kappus said. “Our officers are much better prepared now.”

Marcia Ferguson, executive director of The Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation, said the Foundation supports UH Parma Medical Center’s partnership with community responders through purchases of equipment, technology, training and education.

“When donors give to the Foundation, they are helping to provide care that often starts long before a person arrives at Parma Medical Center,” Ferguson said.

To support the Foundation’s mission to strengthen the community within the walls of the hospital and in the pre-hospital setting, call 440-743-4280.