Funds for life-saving new technology for law enforcement

In an ongoing effort to improve the cardiac system of care in the Upper Midwest, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded a grant of $3.6 million to equip every law enforcement agency as well as South Dakota State Park facilities with the next generation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The grant, facilitated through the South Dakota Department of Health, will fund devices to be placed in law enforcement vehicles in Edmunds County. The project includes training.

"Getting these new AEDs into the hands of those most likely to arrive first on the scene of a cardiac arrest will help save lives," said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley Trustee. "The new technology will give first responders an edge. The South Dakota Department of Health is the first partner in what we hope will be an initiative to place these AEDs in all seven states in Helmsley's funding area in the Upper Midwest."

Studies conducted by the American Heart Association demonstrate a dramatically higher survival rate for cardiac patients shocked by law enforcement, who are generally first on the scene, especially in rural areas. The new LIFEPACK® CR2 defibrillators, designed by the Stryker Corporation, were selected to help rescuers provide the fastest first shock when defibrillation is needed. The LIFEPAK CR2 features industry-leading cpriNSIGHT™ analysis technology that reduces pauses during CPR, allowing for improved blood circulation and better odds of survival. Using Wi-Fi connectivity, these self-monitoring devices can be configured to send near real-time event data via Wi-Fi, including a patient's heart rhythm and shocks delivered, to incoming emergency services or receiving hospitals, helping speed the transition to the next level of care.

"Having these devices in our patrol vehicles will give us the edge on cardiac events," said Sheriff Todd Holtz. "We are excited to have them and complete the necessary training to use them correctly. We can't thank the Helmsley Charitable Trust enough for this gift. This is the step in the right direction for first responders to do what we can in our rural areas. Response times can vary so much depending on a persons location and with most of our services being volunteer this will definitely give us an advantage to possibly save lives across Edmunds County. We have excellent volunteers and hospital staff that work hard to keep our county residents well taken care of," Holtz said.

The new devices will be placed, and training conducted by January 15, 2020. AEDs previously used by some agencies will be relocated throughout communities increasing the number of AEDs accessible to the public.

To date, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has invested more than $416 million to improve access to quality healthcare in rural America, $110 million of that in South Dakota.