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Enhancing AED Readiness: Marin County’s Commitment to Protecting their Community
A connected system of care has the ability to bridge the gap between lifesaving technology and a community's system of cardiac arrest response.
Chris Le Baudour serves as an Administrator with the Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) of Marin County. There are 34 EMS administrators across California, each responsible for overseeing the EMS system in their respective areas. This includes everything from the moment a 911 call is made to the care provided by EMTs and paramedics, to the inspection and certification of emergency vehicles, and all the way to the emergency department and patient discharge. Chris works with various stakeholders to ensure that the care provided within Marin’s EMS system is of the highest quality and is constantly seeking ways to improve the system.
When the Marin County Sheriff’s Office needed to upgrade its fleet of over 30 AEDs, they came to Chris, who suggested they explore several options, including the Avive Connect AED. The sheriff's office ultimately chose Avive for their fleet upgrade, specifically because it offered the best solution for their mobile unit needs.
In connection to Marin’s public access program, Christian Lombard serves as the EMS Specialist for the County of Marin’s Department of Health and Human Services, managing a fleet of 50+ county-owned AEDs. These devices come in various models, and Christian is responsible for conducting quarterly maintenance checks, ensuring that batteries and pads are current, and confirming that the AEDs are ready for use when needed.
Altogether, the County of Marin has 70 AEDs deployed throughout the community, mostly in county offices, with various brands and models in use. EMS agencies across California are responsible for maintaining public access defibrillators, keeping logs, and performing regular checks. As part of this responsibility, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office was looking to upgrade its mobile fleet, ultimately choosing Avive for its reliability and ease of use. With so many devices in play, the county is working to standardize the models and reduce the variety of devices, simplifying maintenance.
While Chris and Christian have different roles and responsibilities when it comes to AEDs, they share a common goal: to protect the community of Marin County and ensure that AEDs are functional and accessible when needed most. Both Chris and Christian offer valuable insights into public access programs, best practices for deployment, and the ideal features needed for effective bystander intervention.