DELHI - A Delhi police officer used a portable defibrillator to revive a 72-year-old resident who suffered cardiac arrest at her home March 2, in what officials described as a rapid, coordinated response by local emergency personnel.
Delhi Police Officer Wyatt Malave and Kevin Brown arrived first at the residence after the emergency call. The woman had collapsed and was unresponsive.
Carrying an automated external defibrillator, or AED, the two immediately began life-saving efforts. The device advised multiple shocks, which were delivered while Brown performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation between cycles.
Members of the Delhi Fire Department emergency squad soon arrived and continued resuscitation before transporting the patient to O’Connor Hospital.
At the hospital’s emergency department, the woman regained a stable heart rhythm and resumed breathing on her own, according to police.
Medical professionals say the timing of such interventions is often decisive. Brain injury can begin within four to six minutes after cardiac arrest, and survival rates decline sharply when defibrillation is delayed. The use of CPR and an AED within the first minutes of collapse can significantly increase the chance of survival, sometimes doubling or tripling outcomes compared with situations where neither is used before emergency medical services arrive.
In rural areas like Delhi, where ambulance response times can be longer than in cities, officials say the availability of defibrillators among police officers and other first responders can be critical.
The Delhi Police Department said the incident underscores the value of equipping and training local responders to provide immediate care before patients reach the hospital. The department also encouraged residents, businesses and organizations to consider installing AED devices and ensuring that staff members are trained in CPR and their use.
Delhi Police Chief Michael Mills said the department will continue to emphasize training, cooperation with other agencies and investment in life-saving equipment as part of its public safety efforts.
