The Lima Elks Club presented a check to the Elida Police Department on Tuesday morning for the purchase of two AEDs.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — The police department is increasing its level of safety for community members. The Elks Lodge donated a total of $1,498 to the Elida police for the purchase of AEDs. In case of medical emergencies, AEDs can provide assistance to officers.
“We will be using this to put AEDs into the two police cruisers to be able to use if there is a medical emergency to be able to assist and hopefully keep someone alive,” Chief Dale Metzger said. “We have a wonderful Fire and EMS here in the village but sometimes they (the departments) are already out on calls and we are the closest ones and if we need to intervene in a life-threatening situation, we need to be able to have the equipment to do it. This allows us to do that.”
The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can check a person’s heart or provide electric shock when necessary. Metzger also said local police departments have started to purchase AEDs to help with emergencies officers may encounter.
“The Elks is a national organization and that is where we are getting the donation,” Metzger said. “The local group is also donating money that is intuitive for both units.”
The national organization is donating a total of $1,000 to the police department. The local Lima organization is donating a total of $498.
“We try to find an organization each year (either fire, police or parks) that can use equipment they do not necessarily have in their budget,” Elks Lodge Esquire Jean Zink said. “This year (the donation) came to the village of Elida. We have secured some funding so they may purchase two AEDs for their squad cars. We have a check from the Ohio Elks Association and a check for $498 from the Lima 54 Athletic and Scholastic fund.”
Zink also said she lives in the village of Elida and is grateful for the safety the department provides to the community.
“I see the patrol cars frequently throughout the day,” Zink said. “I feel very safe in my home and community because of their efforts.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
