Defibrillators, Medical Kits Will Enhance Police Response to Medical Emergencies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(LAKEWAY, Texas) December 5, 2024 — The Lakeway Police Department soon will acquire additional portable external defibrillators, medical kits and other emergency medical equipment, thanks to a $24,438 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $16,292 in matching funds from the City of Lakeway, will enable the police department to purchase 29 portable automated external defibrillators, 23 medical kits and other essential equipment that will be readily available for use in patrol vehicles, increasing police emergency response and lifesaving capabilities.
Chief of Police Glen Koen said police often arrive at emergency scenes before paramedics, so it is important for officers to have the proper tools to deliver immediate aid to individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anybody,” Koen said. “Being awarded this grant enhances our ability to continue providing our officers with lifesaving tools to meet the needs of our community. Equipping our officers with AEDs ensures that defibrillation can occur within the first few critical minutes of a cardiac arrest, when it is most effective.”
Koen said more officers will be trained on how to use AEDs and properly administer CPR.
“Thanks to LCRA and PEC, we will now be able to purchase additional equipment and receive continued training that otherwise may have been harder to obtain,” Koen said. “This grant helps the Lakeway Police Department be better trained and better equipped to meet our department’s vision of unsurpassed safety and service.”
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Pedernales Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit www.lcra.org.
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