TORRINGTON – The Torrington Police Department (TPD) recently received 15 brand-new automated external defibrillators (AED) from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Torrington Police Chief Matt Johnson said he was unable to comment as to how TPD was entered to receive the AEDs as the process started before his arrival. 

Nonetheless, Johnson is looking forward to the benefit of having an AED in each patrol car. He said there will be some training and certifications taking place very soon in cooperation with the Torrington Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team.

Johnson said TPD officers are typically first on scene at medical events and will now have an incredibly valuable and potentially life-saving tool at their disposal. Johnson is currently working with Torrington EMS to establish protocols to determine how to most effectively help the EMS providers with the AEDs.

According to Johnson, “AEDs significantly enhance the possibility of saving someone’s life after a cardiac event.”

According to the American Heart Association, an AED is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). 

According to the Helmsley Trust’s website, the Helmsley Charitable Trust began in the 1930s in New York with Leona and Harry Helmsley. They donated millions of dollars to a vast variety of causes, focusing mostly on health-related institutions and efforts. The Helmsley Charitable Trust began grantmaking in 2008 after the passing of Leona. 

Since its inception, the trust has approved 2,157 grants resulting in $2.449 billion in assets to approved grant recipients.