July 11, 2007

CONTACT:
Communications Department
(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

Take Heart America receives $50,000 grant

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Take Heart America has received a $50,000 grant from the St. Jude Medical Foundation, marking the second year the Foundation has provided support for this project.

Take Heart America is a nationwide program aimed at increasing the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest through community-wide training, distribution of new technology and implementation of new in-hospital treatments. St. Cloud is one of three cities in the country that has been selected to implement the program.

Locally, Take Heart St. Cloud has trained community members and emergency personnel in CPR techniques and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). They also have distributed the AEDs, which can restore irregular heartbeats with a measured electrical shock, throughout the community.

At a June 15 ceremony at St. Cloud Hospital, Take Heart St. Cloud honored 20 local police, fire, and rescue members as well as civilian bystanders who saved the lives of recent sudden cardiac arrest victims.

“The work being done through Take Heart America and local community efforts is saving lives,” said Janet Steinkamp, program development specialist for Take Heart St Cloud. “The continued support from the St. Jude Medical Foundation, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, CentraCare Health Foundation, Central Minnesota Heart Center, St. Cloud Hospital’s Emergency Trauma Center and many others makes these efforts sustainable. With their continued participation and community support, we are helping to save lives.”

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