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Heart Safe Communities: Programs and successesSuccess storiesSurviving sudden cardiac arrest
"I usually get a cup of coffee or a drink of water and keep walking," says Morgren. "That morning, my heart stopped right there in the store, and I passed out in Aisle 15." Read Wendell's story... A fortunate physicianSteven Sirr, MD, is alive today because when his heart suddenly stopped beating, a police officer responded to his call for help. Luckily for Sirr, a physician who lives in Rogers, Minnesota, the Wright County Sheriff's squad was equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED). The life-saving device gave emergency medical personnel the time they needed to rush Sirr to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, where he had valve replacement surgery. Quick thinking saves young lifeIn March 2003, 15-year old Kelly Mealman suffered sudden cardiac arrest in her best friend's back yard in Blaine, Minnesota. She survived, thanks to quick-thinking best friends, Lacie Schulte and Elizabeth Bader and an AED in the squad car of a Sergeant Stephen Johnson. Just minutes away from the scene when the call of a 15-year old girl down came in, Johnson arrived to find Schulte performing CPR. Johnson used an AED and shocked her heart once. Kelly received an implanted defibrillator (ICD). Aside from foregoing athletics, she has recovered fully. 
Kelly is pictured here with Charles Lick, MD, medical director of Allina Medical Transportation and the driver behind Heart Safe Communities. Living proof of importance of a public access program
Johnson, who suffered sudden cardiac arrest in his front yard on Sept. 11, 2001, is living proof of the importance of a public access AED program. Johnson's neighbors kicked off New Brighton's AED fundraising campaign by organizing a ''heart walk" which raised $6,000. Cub FoodsThanks to a unique partnership between Heart Safe Communities and Cub Foods, automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are now in 77 Cub locations throughout the region. In addition, Allina Medical Transportation has trained at least five employees from each store in AED use, and basic CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The City of New Brighton, MinnesotaIn 2009, New Brighton became the first Minnesota city to earn Heart Safe Community designation. It recognizes the city's efforts to prepare its staff and citizens to recognize when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest and how to respond. In addition to equipping city vehicles with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and training city staff in CPR, New Brighton has made CPR and AED training available to its citizens. News release: New Brighton first city to earn Heart Safe Community designation Wright County, MinnesotaHeart Safe Fund for Wright CountyBuffalo Hospital Foundation has a fund to support AED placement, upgrades and training. For more about giving, call 763-684-6800 or see the donation form. Buffalo Hospital and the Community Health Foundation of Wright County teamed up to raise funds to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and conduct school and community-based AED training in 17 Minnesota communities, including Albertville, Annandale, Big Lake, Buffalo, Dassel/Cokato, Delano, Hanover, Howard Lake, Maple Lake, Monticello, Montrose, Rockford, St. Michael, South Haven, Waverly, Watertown/Mayer and Winsted. Read more about Heart Safe Communities of Wright County... Nearly 70 AEDs have been placed in and around Wright County, Minnesota.
Minneapolis / St. Paul International AirportIn 2002, emergency teams responded to more than 2,000 medical calls at the Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport, many of them cardiac related. In 2003, 65 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were installed throughout the main airport complex and surrounding airport locations. Their installation and maintenance is the result of a partnership among United Hospital Foundation, Allina Medical Transportation, the Medtronic Foundation, Minneapolis Airport Foundation and the Metropolitan Airport Commission Fire Department. The City of Elk River, MinnesotaSteve Ditbenner, director of Elk River Ambulance, is the driving force behind the success of Elk Rivers' Heart Safe Communities program. Ditbenner launched the Elk River program by hosting a press conference to highlight the donation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) by the Mercy & Unity Hospitals Foundation. A resulting article in the local paper encouraged community donations for the purchase of additional AEDs. Within two weeks, Ditbenner received enough money to purchase 12 AEDs. To date, AEDs have been placed in Elk River schools, Otsego Elementary School, Elk River library, ice arena and city hall as well as one for utilization by the Elk River Fire Department. Phase II of this program focuses on AED placement in local businesses. Phase III will offer grants to non-profit groups such as houses of worship and private schools. Ditbenner's passion was well-placed as the life-saving power AEDs affected him first-hand. On December 30, 2002, two months after completion of Phase I of his program, Ditbenner's father suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in a restaurant in Excelsior, Minnesota. An AED saved his life. School District 112 (Chaska Area Schools)School District 112 gave students a special gift in December of 2002: 14 automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Following the January 2002 death of a 14 year-old, ninth-grade wrestler during his match at the Chaska Invitational Meet, District 112 officials understood how precious a few minutes can be in a life-threatening situation. While it is unclear if an AED could have saved this young life, the incident motivated District 112 to contact Michele Sundberg, Heart Safe Communities program coordinator, to learn more about sudden cardiac arrest in children and how to make their schools heart safe. The donation of an AED from the St. Francis Regional Medical Center Auxiliary in May 2002, launched the district's Heart Safe Communities program. Community support provided funding for the additional 13 AEDs needed to equip all of the schools. District 112 is among the first school districts in Minnesota to install AEDs in all of their schools. It includes the communities of Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria and Carver. Anoka County, MinnesotaMercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Hospital in Fridley are working together to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities the hospitals serve. The Mercy & Unity Hospitals Foundation has placed more than 23 AEDs and pledged over $76,000 in matching grant dollars for first responder agencies wishing to purchase AEDs. The initiative was funded by one-half the proceeds raised in the Mercy & Unity Golf Classic, a charitable event to raise money for various hospital programs. Additionally, the hospitals' development committee voted to purchase five units to kick-off the Anoka County's Heart Safe Communities program. The initial AEDs were given to these fire and police departments, "first responders" who are often first on the scene administering medical care:
Columbia Heights School District 13Columbia Heights School District 13 purchased five automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for placement in each of their elementary, middle and senior high schools. They are working with the Columbia Heights Fire Department to raise funds to purchase AEDs for all community fire trucks and remaining school buildings in the community. District 13's Heart Safe Communities program has raised money for five AEDs for the fire department and three more for the schools.  Back to Heart Safe Communities |
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Heart Safe Communities
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Wendell Mogren remembers very little about the day he almost died. At 7 a.m. on May 11, 2006, Mogren, 62, was out for a walk in his New Brighton, Minn. neighborhood. Halfway through, he stopped at a nearby Cub Foods store.
New Brighton resident Gene Johnson, pictured here with Allina paramedic Madison Overmoen and EMT Tiffany Krob, is alive today thanks to an AED.
