Allina names Apple Valley a Heart Safe Community
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. 01/27/2010--The City of Apple Valley is now officially a Heart Safe Community. The designation was marked at a celebration on January 20, 2010. The City of Apple Valley is only the second Minnesota community to receive this recognition. The award was presented by Allina Hospitals and Clinics to city officials.
Front row, left to right: Nealon Thompson, Apple Valley Fire Chief; Kim Bemenderfer, Allina Heart Safe Communities Coordinator; Mary Hamann-Roland, Apple Valley Mayor; Sgt. JoEllen Rutzen, Apple Valley Police; Patti McCauley, Allina Medical Transportation Education Coordinator. Back row: Brian LaCroix, Allina Medical Transportation President; Susan Long, Allina Medical Transportation Interim ALF Ambulance Manager; Dr. Charles Lick, Allina Medical Transportation Medical Director; Stu Shepard, Apple Valley AED Program Team Member.
The recognition was in conjunction with the 7th annual Public Access Defibrillation Breakfast sponsored by the Apple Valley Cardiac Emergency Partnership held at the Apple Valley City Hall.
The Partnership, formed in 2001, encourages the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in businesses and other public facilities in Apple Valley. Since the program began, more than 50 AEDs have been placed within the city and the school district. Hundreds of employees have been trained in CPR.
In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, a person's heart stops beating and breathing stops. Without early recognition, bystander CPR and the use of an AED, a person's survival rate is 5 percent or less. By learning CPR and how to use an AED, you can help to save a life!
About Heart Safe Communities
Heart Safe Communities is a community service program of Allina Hospitals & Clinics started through the leadership of Allina Medical Transportation medical director, Charles Lick, MD, also an emergency room physician at Buffalo Hospital in Buffalo, Minnesota.
Allina's Heart Safe Communities is an effort to prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest by placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) wherever people live, work and play. It helps communities and organizations educate citizens about sudden cardiac arrest and improving heart health, raises money to place AEDs with of emergency medical service, fire and police personnel, works to make AEDs available in businesses, schools and other public gathering places, and to train people how to use AEDs.
If you would like more information about CPR or AEDs or becoming a Heart Safe Community visit www.allina.com/heartsafe.
About Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, more than 90 clinics, and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation. More about Allina and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.
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Related Links
Making your community heart safe
New Brighton first city to earn Heart Safe Community designation
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
Sudden cardiac arrest
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
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