Article featured in Anoka County News, Volume 3 – 2008
“Take Heart Anoka County” aims to save lives
A new community approach to saving lives is under way in Anoka County. Take Heart Anoka County, a coalition of doctors, nurses, paramedics, health educators, and community leaders aims to dramatically increase the likelihood of survival after sudden cardiac arrest by training more people in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places throughout the community. An estimated 350,000 people in the U.S. die from sudden cardiac arrest annually. The survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest is low — just five percent. If untreated, death results in as little as six minutes from the time of collapse, rarely enough time for emergency responders to arrive. By training more people in CPR and having more AEDs available in public places, the Take Heart Anoka County initiative hopes to increase survival rates.
Take Heart Anoka County has two grants available funded by the Mercy & Unity Hospitals Foundation to help train the public in CPR and AED use. The first allows people to buy a CPR Anytime kit for $10 (normally $30) that teaches CPR and AED use in less than an hour using a DVD and inflatable mannequin. If someone uses that kit to train at least three people in CPR and AED use, they get their $10 back. The other grant allows the purchase of a $2,000 AED and mounting cabinet for $400. If grant recipients show that the AED has been placed in a public location and at least 25 people have been trained in CPR and AED use, they get their $400 back.