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August 18, 2004
Little
Rock --
At a press conference today, the Arkansas Rural Automated External Defibrillators Coalition announced the placement of 281 lifesaving devices in rural communities across the state. These devices will be used to help heart attack victims when no other medical assistance is available.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 250,000 Americans a year die from heart attacks because they live in areas where no hospital assistance is available. Statistics show that use of a defibrillation device in the first few minutes after a heart attack can give a victim a survival rate of 48 to 74 percent.
David Taylor, Arkansas Department of Health Director of Emergency Management and Trauma Systems, says, “The coalition is so pleased to provide these devices to emergency personnel. Their use can give the gift of life to rural community people that don’t have access to hospital care in those critical first moments after a heart attack.” The agencies receiving devices have agreed to train their personnel in the proper use of the defibrillator.
The Arkansas Rural AED Coalition received a grant in 2003 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to buy Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to place in rural areas with first responders.
The Arkansas Rural AED Coalition includes representatives from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the Department of Emergency Management, the Arkansas Ambulance Association, and the Office of EMS and Trauma, Rural Health/Primary Health, Cardiovascular Health, and Hometown Health Improvement at the Arkansas Department of Health.
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