HHS funds available for rural AED pilot programs

April 20, 2001

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced it will provide more than $100,000 for pilot programs to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in rural areas of Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. The program will be administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy, in collaboration with state emergency medical services officials. Funds will be used to explore ways to establish community partnerships to buy and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and to train personnel.

"Because rural hospital are often far from the scene of emergencies, it's crucial that we get AEDs in the hands of emergency medical technicians, police officers, and others who are among the first to respond to a person in distress," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Agencies in Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin interested in applying for HHS grants should contact their state Office of EMS, or the state Office of Rural Health. Additional information is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010420.html" or by calling HRSA's Office of Rural Health Policy at (301) 443- 0835.