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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 - 15 Automated Emergency Defibrillators & AccessoriesCouncil Agenda February 12, 2002 Item No. 15 To: Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Timothy Riley, Fire Chief 2L Subject. Approve Purchase of 15 Automated Emergency Defibrillators and Accessories to Replace Antiquated Firefighter Equipment The Automated Emergency Defibrillators (AEDs) currently used by firefighters are thirteen years old. CIP #7271 C2310624 authorized $56,000 for replacement of the AEDs. The selection panel unanimously recommends purchase of the Laerdal Medical Heartstart FR 2 semi - automatic defibrillator. This equipment met or exceeded our technical requirements and their quote was the best in the terms of value. A total expenditure of $40,009.96 is required. An AED is a small portable device whose purpose is to restart a normal rhythm in a heart that is beating erratically due to an electrical system malfunction. Every year, more than 225,000 Americans die when their hearts go into the abnormal rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. According the American Heart Association, 50,000 of these victims could be saved if AEDs were readily available and promptly used to restore a normal heartbeat. They are actively promoting programs that support public access of these units. Our paramedics have used manual cardiac defibrillators since 1975. The Newport Beach Fire Department was the first public safety agency in Orange County to have all of its firefighters trained in Emergency Medical Technician - Defibrillation. AEDs were purchased in 1989 and placed on all fire department apparatus. In 2001, all of our permanent lifeguards received AED training. Two devices are now available for emergency responses with a lifeguard supervisor in the beach area. Recently, three manufacturers were invited to submit bids based on the technical requirements of the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency and the fire department. The bidders were Zoll Medical Corporation, Medtronic Physio - Control Corporation, and Laerdal Medical Corporation. A panel of five fire department reviewers listened to these three vendor presentations and observed demonstrations of the equipment. Each panel member evaluated the equipment and provided written documentation. Council Agenda February 12, 2002 Item No. The panel did not recommend purchase of the device by Zoll. The Medtronic Physic - Control quote was $2,150.00 per unit and with accessories a total price of $38,526.01. The Laerdal Medical quote was $1,900 per unit and with accessories a total price of $40,009.96 Each manufacturer provides a data management system that supports post incident medical review. The designs were radically different. The Medtronic Physio - Control design required a modem for each station computer for data transfer to an administrative computer. An alternative method would be to remove the AED from service and physically move it to the administrative computer for data download. The second method would require purchase of an additional AED for a cost of $2,150.00. The additional costs associated with modem use or an extra AED was not reflected in the quote from Medtronic Physio- Control. Neither of these methods for data management was felt to be acceptable by the panel. The Laerdal Medical AED has a data management system that uses a data card and is similar to the process currently used by the fire department. The individual unit costs less than the Medtronic Physio- Control. The quote included an extra data card so an AED would not be removed from service for data transfer, and also provided additional training units. This equipment met or exceeded our technical requirements. In summary, their individual unit price was less and the cost for overall implementation was less.