UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids Heart Saver Program Recipients News Conference
CPR and AEDs save lives. Last month the world watched as they saved the life of NFL football player Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a nationally televised game. He received CPR from a medical team, along with the use of an AED, saving his life.
Knowing the importance and value of having these tools available in the community to save lives, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital, through St. Luke’s Foundation, today announced the recipients of 56 AEDs and 92 Stop the Bleed kits to area first responders, ambulance crews and non-profit organizations in Benton, Jones and Linn counties through its Heart Saver program. Here is a link to the full list of recipients.
Last fall, St. Luke’s announced the Heart Saver program, and invited area organizations to apply to receive an AED, a Stop the Bleed Kit, or both. The Heart Saver program is an effort to place AEDs and Stop the Bleed first aid kits into the community, to save lives through early intervention of cardiac arrest and traumatic injuries.
Four of those organizations receiving an AED and Stop the Bleed kit attended today’s news conference. They participated in CPR and AED instruction and education. In addition, cardiac arrest survivor Chad Coburn of Victor spoke at today’s news conference and described how CPR and an AED saved his life after suffering sudden cardiac arrest at home in 2020.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition caused by the unexpected loss of heart function. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), 70 percent of cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital, and 70 to 90 percent of those individuals die before reaching the emergency room. Alternatively, nine out of 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute live.
In the event of a traumatic injury, a person can die from blood loss within minutes. Stop the Bleed is a national movement, which educates and arms bystanders to address a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.
Organizations receiving these lifesaving devices were chosen via an application through St. Luke’s Foundation with the goal of providing the devices to organizations that did not have one and would serve the most people.
St. Luke’s donation of 56 AEDs and 92 Stop the Bleed kits is valued at over $100,000 and is funded by St. Luke’s Foundation. Each recipient organization will also receive training from St. Luke’s and Simulation in Motion – Iowa (SIM – IA) staff on CPR, AED use and how to Stop the Bleed.
“AEDs and Stop the Bleed kits are critical for individuals who are in a life-or- death situation,” said Michelle Niermann, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids president and CEO. “Having quick access to these tools allows regular citizens to take action to help save a life and start care before an EMS crew arrives. As the area’s heart hospital our goal is to provide the best outcome for every patient every time. These tools aim to give everyone the best chance at life.”
“We are proud to support the Heart Saver program,” said Mary Klinger, St. Luke’s Foundation president. “Healthcare workers dedicate themselves to saving lives and this was another way we could give back to our community in a way that would make a meaningful impact.”
St. Luke’s is Cedar Rapids’ Heart Hospital – providing lifesaving heart care to Eastern Iowans since 1978. February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about matters of the heart and highlight the heart team’s commitment to saving lives.
Learn more about our hospital at unitypoint.org/cedarrapids