Murray, Ky.–In 2004, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office first implemented an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program with donations from the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Endowment and the Murray Women’s Club. Then, on May 23rd of that same year, two Calloway County Deputy Sheriff’s used the newly acquired equipment on an off duty Calloway County Court Security Officer/Deputy Sheriff.
Deputy Dan Galloway was off duty when he collapsed at a business on 641 North in Murray. Murray Police Department arrived first on scene and began CPR. Shortly thereafter, two Calloway County Deputies arrived and used an AED from their patrol vehicle. Galloway survived that episode and was told by doctors that the AED saved his life. Galloway is now a Telecommunicator for Calloway County 911 Dispatch.
Over the last 17 years, those AEDs have been used numerous times by Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputies.
The AEDs from 2004 were recently taken out of service due to replacement batteries no longer being made for them. Two local businesses have since donated new AEDs to the department. The Murray Bank donated five and Mitchell’s Towing donated three.
An AED will be placed at the Sheriff’s Office, an AED will be placed at the Calloway County Judicial Building, and the remaining six will be assigned to deputies on patrol. The Sheriff’s Office still has need for an additional five AEDs to complete the equipping of each patrol deputy.
“As community helpers, we protect the public in many different ways. Many times we are the closest first responder to a call for help, even when that call involves medical help. The revitalizing of this program will help the residents of Calloway County.”
Photo: Mitchell’s Towing donated three defibrillators to the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office.