 Life Savers: MiResCu Grant Brings Additional AEDs To NC On February 10, 2016, Newaygo County became the proud recipient of the MiResCu Community Grant through the Michigan Rural EMS Network (MiREMS). Under this program, representatives from Newaygo County Emergency Services, Newaygo County Medical Control Authority, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, Life EMS, Newaygo County Fire Chiefs Association, Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, and... ...Newaygo County Central Dispatch have been working on implementing a system-wide change to improve survivability from a cardiac arrest.
In addition to High Performance CPR training for public safety personnel, the Michigan Rural EMS Network has provided Newaygo County with seven new Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) to place throughout the County. According to an American Heart Association Consensus Statement released in 2013, more than 500,000 children and adults in the United States experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year and less than 15% survive. This establishes cardiac arrests as one of the most lethal public health problems in the Unites States, claiming more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined. As Newaygo County is a large, rural community with one hospital and limited medical first responder coverage, cardiac arrest survival rates within the community currently are very low. “The addition of seven new AEDs in the County promotes quicker access to these life-saving devices and improves chances of survival from cardiac arrest in our community, said Meleah Marianai Gerber Memorial’s Chief Nursing Officer. The seven new AEDs are in the process of being distributed to the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, White Cloud Police Department, Grant Police Department, Newaygo County Courthouse, and several other local community partners. “The decision of where to place these AEDs was very difficult“, stated Newaygo County Emergency Services Director Abby Watkins. “The Newaygo County MiResCu Community Team had a short window to identify need and determine the areas that would see the greatest benefit from the additional AED equipment.” “Our final decision was based on identified gaps, accessibility, proximity to other AEDs, and availability of medical first responder coverage through the local fire departments.” Local fire and law enforcement departments expressed their gratitude for the new life-saving equipment. Jason Wolford, Vice President of the Newaygo County Fire Chiefs Association- “Receiving this grant means that we can put life-saving equipment in the hands of personnel with quality training, The additional resources available due to this contribution will benefit Newaygo County residents for many years to come.” Dan Evans, White Cloud Police Department Sergeant- “The White Cloud Police Department is proud to be a part of this Michigan Rural EMS Network Grant. AED’s are a critical piece of equipment that officers use in responding to life saving efforts of ‘Sudden Cardiac Arrest.’” Undersheriff Wesley Bierling- “The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department would like to thank its fellow partners of MiResCu Community Team for their part in the new AED project. This project has truly made Newaygo County safer for its residents and visitors by obtaining and distributing these AEDs to essential locations and personnel,” The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, Newaygo County Fire Chiefs Association, and Gerber Memorial would especially like to thank Watkins and her team that helped developed the grant and subsequent training program. Their hard work and dedication while championing this project has strengthened partnerships and may result in a future opportunity to distribute several more AEDs within Newaygo County. For additional information on the MiResCu Initiative within Newaygo County, AEDs or where you can receive CPR training, please contact the Emergency Services Department at (231) 6897354. Comments are closed.
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