Torrance accepts public access defibrillator program update; city installs 44 AEDs and launches PulsePoint registry

The Torrance City Council unanimously accepted and filed an update on the city’s Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) program, which staff said has placed 44 of 50 purchased Lifepak CR2 automated external defibrillators into service at city facilities and launched public registration through PulsePoint.

Adam Brown, EMS chief for Torrance Fire, told the council the city purchased 50 Lifepak CR2 semi‑automatic defibrillators for $128,484.56 and expects to put 44 into service after site assessments and ADA and Wi‑Fi feasibility work. Brown said the Lifepak CR2 devices were chosen for features including LifeLink Central remote monitoring, CPR coaching, dual‑use adult/pediatric pads and a multi‑year battery/pad life cycle.

Brown explained staff created a dedicated Wi‑Fi network for device monitoring and that a third‑party vendor conducted ADA feasibility studies for cabinet installations. He reported that roughly 77% of staff at PAD sites had completed or partially completed CPR/AED training and described a two‑pronged activation approach: cabinet alarms (local audible alerts when cabinets are opened) and the PulsePoint Respond app, which can notify nearby trained responders for public cardiac arrests.

“PulsePoint provides a public registry of AEDs and allows trained responders to see nearby cardiac arrests,” Brown said, noting the system is linked with the city’s computer‑aided dispatch and that HIPAA protections are in place for incident information.

Public commenters urged expanding placement to city‑owned housing and the tiny home village; council members asked about remote monitoring and ongoing testing. Brown said devices perform daily internal self‑tests and report status to LifeLink Central; life‑span estimates were described as eight years for the device, with pads and battery replacement cycles of about four years.

Councilmember Frank Metucci moved to accept and file the update; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff said they will finish site installations, continue employee training and promote PulsePoint registration to the public.