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Fort Dodge just got safer

State-of-the-art defibrillators are now readily available

If a Fort Dodger has a major medical emergency, help may be as close as the nearest police vehicle. Defibrillators were recently purchased by the Police Department to outfit not only the patrol vehicles, but also a number of other locations in our town.

The Police Department has had defibrillators in its patrol vehicles since 2001, but last fall it was notified by the company that provided those devices that they were obsolete and should be taken out of service.

Police Lt. Dennis Mernka led the effort to preserve this protection for our community. Mernka volunteered to help his department get new defibrillators. The process included consultations with personnel at the Fort Dodge Fire Department and UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center to ensure that state-of-the-art replacements were purchased.

A $5,000 grant from the Fort Dodge Community Foundation helped finance the defibrillators, but area businesses also made major contributions. In that regard, Mernka told The Messenger that Rees Truck & Trailer warranted special praise. Its donation matched the price of a single defibrillator — $1,355.

Fifteen new defibrillators were purchased. One is now in each marked squad car. Additionally, units have been positioned at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, Fort Dodge Public Library, Fort Dodge Public Works Department, Fort Dodge Police Department and Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

Having defibrillators readily available has helped save lives since the Police Department first installed them more than 16 years ago.

The Messenger congratulates the department for its commitment making sure that this critical resource remains close at hand. We thank Lt. Mernka for his leadership and applaud the community support that made financing this project achievable.

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