Every minute lost in getting a defibrillator to the cardiac victim lessens survival by 10%. If defibrillation occurs within 1-2 minutes, survival rates may be as high as 90%. To address the above critical health issue, Dakota Medical Foundation has invested over $1 million since 2000 to place AED units in various public facilities, police squad cars, and emergency responder vehicles in Fargo-Moorhead and rural locations in DMF’s service area (click here for DMF AED Placement Sites). In addition, the Foundation funded AED training for staff affiliated with the placement facilities. Our trusted partner, Fargo Cass Public Health, oversees the coordination of the Foundation’s AED Initiative (through 2007) to assure continued training and facilitate data collection and outcome evaluation.
Progress:
1,300 individuals received AED training
438 AED units placed
20 people saved due to immediate access to DMF AED equipment
