Commissioners approve countywide AED purchases and discuss adding Narcan access and training

Becker County commissioners approved a resolution Oct. 8 to purchase additional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and installation hardware for county buildings after a safety-committee inventory identified gaps in coverage across the campus and remote facilities.

Safety and facilities staff recommended the model selected because it accommodates pediatric and adult use without changing the pads between settings. The recommended vendor also included the mounting boxes and a multi-unit discount in its bid, staff said. The purchase would come from the administrator's professional services budget line identified for safety and equipment needs.

Human Services staff volunteered to provide internal training; Human Services indicated an employee (Vanessa, named by staff) would be trained as a CPR/AED instructor to expand county training capacity.

Commissioners also raised a related idea: colocating Narcan (naloxone) at AED sites to increase emergency overdose response. The safety committee recommended considering Narcan placement in public-access locations, but commissioners did not adopt a formal Narcan policy at the meeting. Instead they noted the idea would require training protocols and follow-up discussion. "As we identify locations for AEDs, it could potentially serve the locations for Narcan as well," a county official said.

The board approved the AED purchases by voice vote and directed staff to return with placement plans and a draft policy for any combined AED/Narcan program if the board wishes to make Narcan widely available in county facilities.