Hidalgo County, TX (KRGV) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is placing 116 AEDs in patrol units to give deputies another tool to help save lives before EMS arrives.

AEDs are used when someone goes into sudden cardiac arrest. The device checks a person's heart rhythm and determines whether a shock is needed.

The sheriff's office says deputies are often among the first to arrive at medical calls.

"Deputies are trained in CPR to include the AED training. Now that we have the AEDs, now they can start applying them and helping them until EMS arrives and they can continue care," Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office Investigator Andrea Lopez said.

Deputies are now completing a required four-hour CPR training course. Once they are certified, they will be able to carry the devices on patrol.