Today, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), North Dakota State Health Officer Sherry Adams, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and local community members and partners celebrated the lives saved in the state through a grant program to equip rural law enforcement officers with modern, “connected” automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Launched in 2021, the North Dakota Law Enforcement AED Project supplied about 1,700 AEDs to local, state, tribal, and federal North Dakota law enforcement agencies as part of an HHS goal to improve emergency medical care in rural areas.
The AEDs were used about 1,000 times and have saved an estimated 90 lives over the past five years.
Participants gathered in-person in Bismarck and virtually at a watch party held at the Finish Line Burgers and Brew in Velva, N.D., where one such save occurred, to see the premier showing of a video showcasing the impact of the grant project on individuals and the Velva community.
The video featured first-hand accounts from a cardiac event survivor, her family, friends and neighbors, and McHenry County Deputy Adam McTaggart, who was the first responder on the scene and was equipped with - and trained to use - a grant-funded AED.
Walter Panzirer (pan-ZEER), a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, shared a recorded message. “In 2021, Helmsley granted $4.3 million to North Dakota’s public health agency to equip law enforcement officers with modern lifesaving AEDs. I was pleased to have the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the heroic work of first responders and the lives saved in North Dakota through Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program initiative,” he said.
Adams, who is a member of Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s Cabinet and leads the Southwestern District Health Unit, which serves eight counties and many rural residents, said she was grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness about North Dakota’s partnership with the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
“The story that was shared was an amazing example of the lifesaving impact we can have as individuals, organizations, and communities working together to address rural health needs – especially emergency medical care needs,” Adams said. “The Helmsley Charitable Trust’s investment in the state has ensured that law enforcement responders have industry-leading AED equipment and the training needed to save lives and keep families whole.”
North Dakota HHS’ Emergency Medical Systems Unit oversaw the project.
In addition to comments from Adams and Panzirer, HHS organizers acknowledged several special guests, including the survivor and Deputy McTaggart, and shared information about how other communities can follow Velva’s example and become Cardiac Ready Communities.
The event was recorded and will be shared on the HHS YouTube channel.
HHS and Adams encourage North Dakotans to know the signs of cardiac arrest, to call 911 right away if they witness someone in cardiac arrest, and to know how to do CPR and use an AED. Learn more at cpr.heart.org/en.
Both rural and urban communities can learn about becoming a Cardiac Ready Community at hhs.nd.gov/health/EMS/cardiac_ready or by contacting the HHS Emergency Medical Systems Unit at dems@nd.gov, 701-328-2388, 711 (TTY).