COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – HEARTsafe Eugene-Springfield received a $5,000 grant from the PulsePoint Foundation -- a public non-profit 501(c)(3) -- for the purchase of public defibrillators following their win of the 2023 national PulsePoint AED Contest. As recipients of this grant, HEARTsafe Eugene-Springfield gifted an AED to South Lane Fire and Rescue -- in honor of their HEARTsafe efforts -- during a small recognition ceremony at the Cottage Grove Community Theater, where the AED will reside.
Nationally, the survival rate of cardiac arrest is approximately 9% and the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute that goes by without chest compressions (CPR), making AEDs an important step in the chain of survival. HEARTsafe efforts provide both community education and a local call-to-action to start the chain of survival by calling 9-1-1, starting hands-only chest compressions, and using an AED as soon as possible. In Eugene-Springfield the survival rate of cardiac arrest with bystander intervention rose to 63% in 2022. The more people who know how to do compression-only CPR and the more access the community has to AEDs, the more lives that will be saved.
In South Lane, the majority of cardiac arrests happen at home when 9-1-1 responders are not with the person. South Lane is actively working to be a HEARTsafe community through community education of sudden cardiac recognition and response.
HEARTsafe Eugene-Springfield is a proud supporting partner of South Lane Fire and Rescue, and PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center.
About the PulsePoint Foundation: PulsePoint is a public 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that builds applications for use by public safety agencies to increase community awareness during critical events. The PulsePoint Respond mobile app notifies trained individuals of the nearby need for CPR and the PulsePoint AED registry identifies AED (automated external defibrillator) locations for use by the public and 9-1-1 telecommunicators during emergency call taking. PulsePoint also provides specialized mobile apps for professional responders. Learn more at pulsepoint.org. The free app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
About HEARTsafe Eugene-Springfield: HEARTsafe Eugene-Springfield is committed to making the Eugene-Springfield community a HEARTsafe Community. We are focused on increasing cardiac arrest survival rates through awareness, education, and partnering with organizations that further this mission. For questions email, HEARTsafe@peacehealth.org
About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
