10C
Date: September 23, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David Dumais, Fire Chief
By: Adam Brown, Assistant Chief | [email protected] Subject: Fire – Accept and File Update on the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Fire Chief that City Council accept and file an update on the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
On January 10, 2023, the City Council directed staff to equip every public building in the City of Torrance with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and to train employees to use the devices in an emergency.
On July 11, 2023, staff presented the Fire Chief’s recommendation that the City Council accept and file an update on the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program. The report provided a comprehensive overview of the program’s background, locations, components, oversight, training, and staff recommendations.
On December 12, 2023, staff sought authorization to issue a purchase order to Stryker Corporation (Kalamazoo, MI) for fifty (50) LIFEPAK CR2 Semi-Automatic Defibrillators, including sales tax, totaling $128,484.56 as a special opportunity purchase. Staff selected the LIFEPAK CR2 for its comprehensive remote monitoring system, eight-year device life, four-year battery and pad life, easy-to-place electrodes, cprINSIGHT (analysis during compressions without pausing), metronome coaching, dual-use pads with child mode, and ClearVoice bilingual (English/Spanish) prompts that are audible in loud environments.
1 City Council
September 23, 2025
6 7
7 Priority sites were identified based on occupancy, use, and building configuration as follows:
Site # of AEDs
City Hall 3
West Annex 1
East Annex 1
Human Resources 1
Stanley E. Meyer Telecom Building 2
Police Department 4
Fire Station 1 1
Fire Station 2 1
Fire Station 3 1
Fire Station 4 1
Fire Station 5 1
Fire Station 6 1
City Yard 4
Zamperini Field 1
Armstrong Theater 1
Cultural Arts Center 1
Ken Miller Recreation Center 1
Nakano Theater 1
Toyota Meeting Hall 1
El Retiro Library 1
Henderson Library 1
Katy Geissert Library 3
North Torrance Library 1
Southeast Library 1
Walteria Library 1
The Attic 1
Bartlett Senior Center 2
Dee Hardison Sports Center 1
Nature Center 1
Torrance Plunge 1
Transit Center 2
In February 2024, the Fire Department received the AED shipment and began preparing units for deployment. The PAD Program Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG) were created to define roles, response procedures, readiness checks, and reporting requirements, ensuring consistent expectations for employees at each location. General Services, Information Technology (IT), and Fire jointly assessed each site for a visible, centrally located, and easily accessible cabinet location and verified Wi-Fi connectivity. A third-party vendor conducted an ADA assessment and feasibility study for cabinet installation. Risk Management facilitated CPR and AED training for approximately half of the employees at each site.
To support remote readiness monitoring, IT coordinated device syncing with the vendor and created a dedicated AED Wi-Fi network. General Services coordinated cabinet installations per the ADA plans in August 2025. Each site also receives a quick kit with the necessary medical supplies and a clipboard for documentation and reference during a PAD activation. Program SOGs and information sheets were developed to review and assist employees new to the PAD Program. 2 City Council
September 23, 2025
6 7
7 The TFD EMS Division will oversee the program and serve as the PAD Program Manager.
Through Wi-Fi connectivity, each AED will be linked to a remote monitoring platform that provides readiness alerts and displays battery and pad status and expiration dates, helping ensure every device remains response ready. Employees will also conduct visual checks to confirm the readiness indicator is on and that all associated equipment is present.
Trained employees at each location will form a “Response Team” led by a Site Coordinator.
Emergencies will trigger team notification in two ways: (1) the cabinet’s audible alarm when the cover is removed, and (2) PulsePoint notifications once 911 has been contacted, which alert nearby trained personnel. Upon activation, response team members will retrieve the AED, quick kit, and clipboard and respond to the patient’s location to begin AED deployment and provide CPR while first responders are en-route.
The PAD Program is also designed for use by untrained bystanders. Facility signage directs bystanders to the nearest AED, and the device’s bilingual voice prompts and visual guides walk users through chest compressions, pad placement, and defibrillation when indicated.
The City will use two PulsePoint applications: Respond and AED. PulsePoint Respond is a 911- connected app that alerts nearby CPR-trained bystanders when a public-location cardiac arrest occurs and also provides a public, real-time map of emergency incidents handled by the Torrance Fire Department. PulsePoint AED is a public registry displaying AED locations and allowing users to add photos and location details. Each City AED will be entered into the PulsePoint AED registry with photos, precise geolocation, access notes, and device serial numbers. Site Coordinator assignments and contact lists will be finalized, and a one-page quick guide (covering the AED, quick kit, clipboard, and SOG highlights) will be posted at each site.
Employee training will continue through the Risk Management Office, with priority given to high- occupancy and high-risk locations. Site Coordinators will be encouraged to conduct regular PAD drills that include retrieval, pad application, and simulated shock, with documented times and lessons learned. Annual refresher training on CPR and AED use will be available to all employees.
In coordination with the TFD, post-event debriefs will occur within three business days of any activation to provide feedback and improvement recommendations to employees.
Finally, staff will continue to promote the PulsePoint applications to employees and the public via social media, the MyTorrance app, City website, and QR codes posted in high-traffic locations across the City.
ATTACHMENT
1. Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program Update Presentation 3 Public Access Defibrillator
(PAD) Program
City Council Update
9/23/2025
10D
ATTACHMENT 1
4 Background
January 10, 2023
City Council request to supply every public building within the City of Torrance with an AED and provide training to employees.
July 11, 2023
City Council accepted and filed an update on the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program, a comprehensive overview and staff recommendations of the PAD Program.
December 12, 2023
City Council authorized the purchase of fifty (50) LIFEPAK CR2 Semi- Automatic Defibrillators in the amount of $128,484.56.
5 LIFEPAK CR2
LIFELINKcentral: Remote monitoring system
cprINSIGHT: Analysis of CPR during compressions
Metronome coaching: Cadence for compressions
Dual use pads: Adult and child applications
ClearVoice: Verbal prompts in English and Spanish
Device lifespan: 8 years
Battery and pad lifespan: 4 years
6 PAD Sites
Selected based on occupancy type, usage, and configuration.
Armstrong Theater (1)
Bartlett Senior Center (2)
City Hall (3)
City Yard (4)
Cultural Arts Center (1)
Dee Hardison Sports Center (1)
East Annex (1)
El Retiro Library (1)
Fire (6)
Henderson Library (1)
Human Resources (1)
Katy Geissert Library (3)
Ken Miller Recreation Center (1)
Nakano Theater (1)
Nature Center (1)
North Torrance Library (1)
Police Department (4)
Southeast Library (1)
S.E. Meyer Telecom Building (2)
The Attic (1)
Torrance Plunge (1)
Toyota Meeting Hall (1)
Transit Center (2)
Walteria Library (1)
West Annex (1)
Zamperini Field (1)
7 Site Assessments
• General Services, IT, and Fire
determined the specific AED
locations at each site based
on visibility, central location,
and Wi-Fi connectivity.
• A dedicated Wi-Fi network
was created for AED remote
monitoring.
• A third-party vendor
conducted an ADA
assessment and feasibility
study for AED cabinet
installation.
8 Employee Training
Risk Management has facilitated approximately half
of all employees at PAD sites to receive training in
CPR and AED.
9 Activation
Notifications activating the Response Team will occur in two ways:
Cabinet alarm: Once
opened, the AED cabinet will
sound an audible alarm.
PulsePoint: After 911 is
contacted, PulsePoint
Respond will notify nearby
trained responders through
the smartphone app.
TFD
CPR NEEDED!
I’m responding, guide me
TORRANCE CITY HALL
3031 Torrance Blvd,
Torrance, CA 90503
CPR NEEDED!
TORRANCE CITY HALL
3031 Torrance Blvd. Torrance
PULSEPOINT
now
10 PulsePoint
AED:
• AED dashboard
available to the
public
• Details and
pictures can be
added to each site.
• Dispatchers can
relay AED
information to
nearby individuals
trained in CPR and
AED use.
Respond:
• A 911-connected
mobile app that
allows TFD
incidents to be
seen by the public.
• Alerts CPR/AED-
trained individuals
to nearby cardiac
arrests.
• Information shared
is compliant with
HIPAA regulations.
Medical Emergency
Crenshaw Blvd X Maple Ave.
E97 RA91 BLS91
Commercial Fire
1701 Crenshaw Blvd.
B91 T91 E91 E92 RA96 BLS96
11 Next
Steps
Training
Remaining employees
Annual drills and refreshers
Incident debriefs
PulsePoint Promotion
Social Media
myTorrance app
City website
QR codes
Program Expansion
City locations
AED Ambassadors
Businesses
Continuous Improvement
Evaluate PAD efficiency
12 Staff is available for questions
13