Local law enforcement vehicles will soon be equipped with automated external defibrillators, thanks to a $100,000 federal grant plus county and local contributions.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners recently voted unanimously to accept the $100,000 Rural Access for Emergency Services grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The grant will provide funds to buy 100 automated external defibrillators to be deployed to law enforcement vehicles serving the county and municipal jurisdictions.

Buddy Spong, executive director of the Moore County chapter of the American Red Cross, said Wednesday that he was thankful to the commissioners for their acceptance of the grant. He said the funding would enable HeartSafe Moore County to move ahead.

“We are getting schools covered, downtown Southern Pines, businesses and churches,” Spong said. “Yesterday was the jump of a football field. We really moved 100 yards, making us head and shoulders above the country.

“This will really help in covering all of the rural areas of the county. We are really excited about this.”

Spong added that the organization will receive special pricing because it is ordering so many of the devices.

In accepting the grant, the commissioners approved a $17,500 in-kind contribution for project management to include salaries and resources associated with purchasing, deploying, training and database management of the project. HeartSafe Moore County, which is the local partner with the county, has agreed to a $2,500 contribution of AED equipment.

Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips told the commissioners that Moore County Emergency Medical Services has sufficient instructors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED to carry out annual training for local law enforcement agencies. Phillips said his department would maintain their certifications through the continuing education database.

Contact Florence Gilkeson by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.