01-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE $18.8 Million Helmsley Charitable Trust Grant to Fund Life-Saving New Technology for Law Enforcement in ORONO ORONO, M.N. (January 9, 2023) - In an ongoing effort to improve the cardiac system of care in the Upper Midwest, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded an $18.8 million grant to the University of Minnesota Medical School. The grant aims to provide law enforcement officers and first responders across Minnesota with more than 8,300 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to improve cardiac arrest survival rates. The grant includes funding for 12 AEDs for Orono Police Department. “Seconds count during a cardiac arrest,” said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley trustee. “We know in Minnesota first responders often have great distances to cover. This funding will ensure those who get to the scene before EMS arrives give patients a better shot at survival.” Data from Minnesota CARES (Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival) shows that 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents happen in homes, where AEDs placed in public facilities can be less effective. AEDs should be applied within the first 3 to 5 minutes for the best possible outcome. Studies conducted by the American Heart Association demonstrate a dramatically higher survival rate for cardiac patients shocked by law enforcement, who are generally first on the scene, especially in rural areas. The AEDs analyze heart rhythms throughout CPR, reduce pauses and allow for improved blood circulation to increase the odds of survival. Using Wi-Fi connectivity, these self-monitoring devices can report their status to a centralized online data repository, allowing law enforcement agencies to know their devices are ready or in need of maintenance. The information collected will also allow the Center for Resuscitation Medicine to improve response to cardiac arrest and demonstrate how swift law enforcement response gives patients a better chance of survival.