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July 1, 2007
Pricing and Quality Make Defibrillators an Easy Decision, Public Power Magazine, July-August 2007
| For More Information |
Tim Blodgett
Hometown Connections
303-526-4515
tblodgett@hometownconnections.com
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35% Discount on AEDs and Accessories for APPA Members
Exclusive industry pricing and independent research continue to make portable defibrillators from Philips Medical Systems the superior choice for public power utilities. MD Buyline, an independent healthcare research company, has named Philips the number one defibrillator manufacturer in overall user satisfaction, as well as in categories including system performance, system reliability, installation, training and service response time. Members of the American Public Power Association save up to 35 percent on Philips HeartStart defibrillators and related accessories when purchasing through Hometown Connections.
Philips offers a full range of defibrillators—from easy-to-use automated external defibrillators (AED), used in the community, to sophisticated multifunction monitor/defibrillators used by healthcare professionals. Defibrillators are used for treating the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical malfunction of the heart and is typically associated with an abnormal heart rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. Electrical exposure to 50-60 Hz can cause ventricular fibrillation. A shock from a defibrillator within the first three to five minutes is the most effective treatment to stop ventricular fibrillation and restore a normal heart rhythm.
APPA members can learn more about the defibrillators either directly from Hometown Connections or through its affiliated public power organizations. For example, the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, Indiana Municipal Electric Association and Crawfordsville, Ind., Electric Light & Power are conducting defibrillator education programs for public power officials in their states.
Riviera Utilities in Alabama initially purchased Philips HeartStart defibrillators about four years ago, through Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. According to Safety Manager Bill Burchett, Riviera’s purchasing decision was based primarily on the discount pricing arranged by Hometown Connections. “We had investigated purchasing defibrillators previously, however the cost was considered prohibitive,” Burchett said.
Riviera Utilities placed the defibrillators in the two main utility offices, in two electric crew offices, and in the gas and water crew office. Prior to placing the units in service, the utility asked its local worker’s compensation physician to act as medical director of the AED program. The utility then contracted a local company to train employees on operation and use of the AED units. This ongoing training is conducted on an annual basis, with first aid, CPR and AED training combined. The defibrillators are inspected monthly to verify the condition of the batteries and pads. Now Riviera Utilities is purchasing additional Philips AEDs for vehicles.
Alabama’s Sylacauga Utilities purchased two Philips HeartStart AED units through AMEA/Hometown Connections in March 2003. “We wanted to equip two of our bucket trucks with this type of protection, and we were pleased when AMEA contacted us about the Hometown Connections program,” said Darol W. Russell, operations director/safety coordinator. In addition to the two truck units, Sylacauga Utilities purchased a Philips AED for its Operations Center. The Utilities Board also presented a Philips AED to each of the schools in Sylacauga, (county and city). The utility plans to purchase two more units to be located at the water and wastewater treatment plants.
“We implemented our AED program with the support of the hospital emergency room staff administrator through instructions provided by AMEA and Hometown Connections,” Russell said. “We continue to provide AED training at least once a year during our quarterly safety meetings. The classes include CPR and first aid training. We check the units on a monthly basis when vehicle inspections are due, and maintain the records on file in the Electric Department.”
The Bremen, Ind., Electric Department had been interested in purchasing AEDs for several years. “During a meeting held by the Indiana Municipal Electric Association, we learned of the pricing discounts arranged by Hometown Connections. We decided to purchase two Philips AEDs in April 2006 for each of our line trucks,” said Superintendent Tim Montague. “Our local hospital approved of our selection of the Philips HeartStart FRx defibrillator.”
The Philips HeartStart FRx Defibrillator is exceptionally rugged— able to withstand jetting water, loads of up to 500 pounds and a one-meter drop onto concrete. It is designed to be easy to use, rugged and reliable for treating sudden cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation in environments and conditions too demanding for many other defibrillators.
“Our employees thought it was a great idea to purchase the Philips defibrillators. We are a small community of 5,000 people. We know each other and want to be able to help out a neighbor if a crisis arises while our crews are in the area,” Montague said.
Visit these web sites for more information.
• Philips Medical Systems
• Hometown Connections
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