POST FALLS - Post Falls police will have a new tool to save lives - courtesy of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

The fire agency is donating five automated external defibrillators (AEDs) - portable devices that treat patients in some emergency situations with electrical therapy - valued at $1,200 each to the police department.

"We could put them on a tender or brush truck that may not even respond, but we felt that putting them in patrol cars that are on the street 24-7 is a much more effective use," said KCFR Chief Warren Merritt. "We see this as leveraging existing resources at no cost."

Police respond to all emergencies and are oftentimes first on scene ahead of EMTs and firefighters because they're already on the street.

PFPD responded to more than 1,700 medical calls last year, Chief Scot Haug said.

"I truly believe this will save someone's life," Haug said.

PFPD has an AED in the lobby of its station, but doesn't have them in patrol cars. The department has wanted AEDs in patrol cars for several years, but they haven't been obtained due to tight budgets.

"It's good to see the agencies work together for the health and well being of citizens," KCFR Commissioner Paul Wagner said.

Merritt learned first-hand how AEDs can increase the survival rate by being in patrol cars.

In a two-year study involving Bellevue and Kent agencies in western Washington, where Merritt worked before joining KCFR this year, survival rates increased from 46 to 67 percent.

"Our relationship (between KCFR and PFPD) in the field is outstanding and we see this as another enhancement of that relationship," Merritt said.

KCFR is in the process of having the AEDs in its ambulances match those in fire engines for consistency. Merritt called the devices donated to PFPD as the "previous generation" of AEDs, but still functional.

KCFR will train PFPD officers on the devices soon. PFPD will take over the cost to maintain the devices.

"This is a nice gift from KCFR to get our program started," Haug said. "We'll look for grant funding in the future for additional units. This is a big asset to the community and a big asset to the police department."