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ISP receives donation of 50 AEDs

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police received a life-saving donation Wednesday.

The private foundation Bolt for the Heart donated 50 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to ISP.

State police superintendent Doug Carter says it’s another tool to help state troopers protect and serve.

The AED donations are personal for Rick Thacker. ISP Corporal Dan Backer used one to save the life of Thacker’s grandfather.

“By the time I got back to the car, he (Backer) and Sgt. Boise were already exiting the building with the red box of life,” Thacker explained. “They came out, they administered two shocks with the AED, they remained calm. They kept us updated when they got a pulse and got good blood pressure and stayed with us until the amublance arrived.”

Thacker said his grandfather made a full recovery and returned home to Florida.