How important is it to know how to use a defibrillator ? Just ask Herscher Police Lt. Chad Scanlon.

Officer Scanlon's use of the medical device may have saved a life. And Herscher Police Chief Rick Gilbert is saying 'Thank You" to the village board for purchasing four Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), which all officers are certified to use.

The devices are used for cardiac arrest cases.

The Herscher Pilot newspaper reports it was May 3rd when Lt. Scanlon responded to a call of a possible heart attack patient. Arriving a head of the ambulance, Scanlon put the Headstart defibrillator to good use. The device, equipped with a speaking mechanism, analyzed the patient's heart rhythm and advised Lt. Scanlon when to administer CPR.

The Pilot reported, the patient had a heart beat in transport by ambulance to Riverside Medical Center.

Police Chief Gilbert said "you can't put a price on that, saving a life."

94.1 WGFA