Home / Crime and Justice / 15 Minutes Clinically Dead: AEDs Now Standard in Fort Worth Patrol Cars
15 Minutes Clinically Dead: AEDs Now Standard in Fort Worth Patrol Cars
17 Feb
Summary
- Officer Parker was clinically dead for 15 minutes during a sudden cardiac event.
- Coworkers used an AED and chest compressions to save the officer's life.
- Fort Worth police cars will now be equipped with AEDs for immediate response.
A Fort Worth police officer's life was saved thanks to the rapid intervention of his colleagues and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Officer Terrence Parker experienced a sudden cardiac event in May 2024, leaving him clinically dead for approximately 15 minutes. His coworkers' immediate use of CPR and an AED was crucial to his survival.
Following this near-fatal incident, the Fort Worth Police Department is now equipping its patrol cars with AEDs. This measure aims to ensure that first responders can act swiftly and effectively during medical emergencies across the community. The availability of AEDs in patrol vehicles is expected to significantly improve response times.
Officials emphasize that police officers are often the first to arrive at emergency scenes. Having AEDs readily accessible in patrol cars means life-saving equipment can be deployed much faster than waiting for traditional EMS units. Officer Parker himself highlighted the critical importance of this new measure for saving lives.
