Fishing to save lives

BUFFALO, Minn. 08/17/2007-- Local law enforcement are saving lives with the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in their squad cars, but they need to be updated to meet the recently updated American Heart Association (AHA) CPR guidelines. The current defibrillators were placed by the Heart Safe Communities program in 1999.

To fund the upgrade of these life saving devices, Buffalo Hospital Foundation is hosting a Fishing Tournament on Saturday, September 22, 2007. The tournament is multi-species, catch & release—Walleye, Bass & Northern— held on Buffalo Lake along Highway 25 & 2nd Avenue South in Buffalo. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. and the tournament runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon with the weigh in slated for 12:30 p.m. complete with lunch. To register, learn about sponsorship opportunities or simply make a donation to this worthy cause, call the Buffalo Hospital Foundation at 763-684-6800. Registrations will be accepted up to the day of the tournament.

A Rogers man recently discovered just how important the placement of these devices in squad cars can be. Ron Wadsworth's life was saved on May 5, 2007 thanks to one of the AEDs placed by the Heart Safe Communities program. He was cleaning a house he sold when he became a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Deputy Lisa Fox of the Wright County Sheriff's office was the first to arrive at the scene and administered a shock using the Heart Safe AED in her squad. Since law enforcement officers are often the first to arrive in an emergency, it is imperative they have squad car AEDs that meet the latest AHA guidelines. "Ron's life was saved thanks to Wright County being on the forefront of placing AEDs in squad cars," says Kelly Lewis Heart Safe Communities program coordinator at Buffalo Hospital and Allina Medical Transportation. "Rapid response is key to saving lives because every minute that goes by a person's survival rate decreases by 10 percent. Ron is just one example of the difference Heart Safe Communities is making in Wright County. "

"The defibrillators in our squads have enabled us to respond rapidly in heart emergencies, and the new defibrillators will help us continue to save lives," says says Gary Miller, Wright County Sheriff. "In addition, they are very simple to upgrade, and have some new features including an infant setting to ensure our community is even more heart safe." "Community support of our upcoming fishing tournament is critical to raising adequate funds for upgrading these devices," adds Lewis. "Sponsorship opportunities range from presenting and platinum sponsors to simply participating in the tournament where a two-person team pays a $100 entry fee."

To date, the Heart Safe Communities Program has placed more than 150 AEDs throughout Wright County and the surrounding communities. The upgraded device placement will include all Wright County squads, as well as police department squads in Buffalo, Annandale and Howard Lake. For more information about the fishing tournament or about HeartSafe Communities, please call Buffalo Hospital Foundation at 763-684-6800 or visit www.buffalohospital.org.

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Fishing to save lives

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