The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is adding another layer of lifesaving equipment to its patrol vehicles and county buildings with the purchase of 50 automated external defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs.
Chief Deputy Billy Knox said the devices were purchased using funds from the state’s opioid abatement program, which provides counties with money that must be used for efforts tied to addressing the opioid crisis.
“The state has designated an opioid abatement fund for counties,” Knox said. “Each year, the county receives funds and they can only be spent on items that address the opioid crisis. With these AED machines, they fall under that grant program.”
Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, are portable devices used to help someone whose heart has suddenly stopped or is beating irregularly. The machines are designed to be easy to use and provide clear voice instructions, guiding responders through each step. When attached to a person, an AED can check the heart’s rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electric shock to help restore a normal heartbeat.
The county spent roughly $100,000 on the 50 devices, which will be placed in sheriff’s office patrol units and county buildings throughout Liberty County. Knox said the goal is to make sure deputies have immediate access to lifesaving equipment when seconds matter most.
“There is still money left over for the county to spend,” Knox said, noting that constable offices may also request funding for qualifying equipment.
Knox said deputies are already equipped with NARCAN, which can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. That medication is provided to the sheriff’s office through other organizations, so there was no need to use grant funds to purchase it.
By putting AEDs directly in patrol vehicles and expanding their availability in county buildings, the sheriff’s office hopes to shorten response times during medical emergencies and give residents a better chance when every moment counts.