La. responders drive with defibrillators after death of fire official

By Mary Sparacello
Times-Picayune

KENNER, La. — Motivated by the death of a former parish fire captain during an emergency call last year, all Kenner police patrol cars have been outfitted with life-saving defibrillators.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to save many lives in the city of Kenner," Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway said Tuesday.

Mayor Ed Muniz found money for the defibrillators left over from the 2003-04 capital budget, and the Kenner City Council authorized $97,496.25 for the 75 defibrillators in mid-May.

The machines are dedicated to the late David L. Letellier Sr., a former Jefferson Parish fire captain who died March 4, 2006, of heart failure. A police car responded to the 911 call from Letellier's wife within a minute but the vehicle was not equipped with the portable defibrillator that could have saved Letellier's life. A nearby fire truck with such a machine was not called.

Automated external defibrillators shock a person's heart back into a normal rhythm.

"I am very honored, knowing that this was dedicated in my father's name," Marie Letellier Scavo, Letellier's daughter, said. "I am sure many families will benefit from these defibrillators."

Before the machines could be installed in the patrol cars, police officers had to have nine hours of training in CPR, first aid and the machine's use, overseen by a medical director, Caraway said.

The machines have not yet been used, he said.

The American Heart Association recommends that the machines be available in emergency vehicles and places where people congregate, such as airports and stadiums.

"Early defibrillation, preferably in the first three to five minutes, really does save someone's life," said Wendee Bloom, senior communications director for the American Heart Association. "It makes such a big difference."

The association helped pass legislation several years ago to put the devices in every fitness center in the state and recently finished a campaign to outfit more first responders in the New Orleans area, she said.

The size of a laptop computer, the machines can be attached to someone thought to be in cardiac arrest and prompts rescuers with voice and visual cues. The machine analyzes heart rhythm to determine whether a shock is needed, according to the American Heart Association.

"These are automatic," Caraway said. "It walks you through step by step."

The defibrillator determines the person's vital signs and could give the person a heart-starting shock or direct the officer to give chest compressions or do CPR.

"Tear open package and remove pads," a loud computerized voice said when one of the display machines was opened at Tuesday's news conference. "Peel one pad from plastic liner."

Scavo, who spoke at several Kenner City Council meetings about her father's death and the need for the machines in all patrol cars, met with Caraway on Tuesday and saw the devices.

"Hopefully, some other families will benefit from our loss," she said.