Recognition of Heart Safe Ramsey Volunteers for Achieving Goal of 1400 Residents Trained in CPR & AED Use.

Purpose:
The purpose of this presentation is to recognize the Heart Safe Ramsey Committee for accomplishing their goal of training 1,400 Ramsey residents in bystander CPR and proper AED use and for their dedication to the safety and wellbeing of our residents and businesses.
 
The Heart Safe Committee is made up of Tim Hoffman (Champion), Officer Nick Stolp, City Administrator Kurt Ulrich, Duane Larson (Treasurer), Bill Hoppenrath, and Nichole Wenberg.
 
The City of Ramsey and the Heart Safe Committee would also like to offer a special thanks to the residents, businesses, and organizations that have participated in the trainings, as well as The Ramsey Lions and The Ramsey Rotary for the support they have provided this program along the way.
 
Background:
Heart Safe Ramsey was initiated in 2014 with the mission to increase survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest by educating the public in hands-only CPR and correct use of an AED (automated external defibrillator).  Since then, Heart Safe Ramsey Champion, Tim Hoffman, and a small committee of community volunteers and representatives from Ramsey’s city staff and police department, have been working to ensure proper coverage of public access defibrillators throughout the City, while offering free AED and CPR training sessions to Ramsey residents, businesses, and organizations.  Heart Safe Ramsey reached their goal of training over 1,400 residents through sessions at the City Hall, appearances at various community events, and private training sessions for businesses and organizations by request.  They have worked closely with local youth sports programs to educate coaches and athletes in sudden cardiac arrest response as well.  The Heart Safe Ramsey Committee also identified the locations of dozens of AED's across the city with “AED On Site” stickers and an interactive AED location map.  They also worked with businesses to educate them, not only on how to use these AED’s, but how to properly maintain them.
 
The City of Ramsey earned its Heart Safe designation in just nine (9) months, but the work did not stop there.  Heart Safe Ramsey went on to assist surrounding cities with developing their own Heart Safe programs.  “We have impacted local communities and have become a role model for other Heart Safe programs on a global level.  From cities across Anoka County to cities in Arizona.  We even have a connection to Worcester, England, who recently acquired their Heart Safe designation!” Tim Hoffman shared.
 
Working as an outreach with other Heart Safe programs, Heart Safe Ramsey has helped to train more than 20,000 people in Anoka County in bystander CPR and proper use of an AED.  Heart Safe Ramsey representative, Tim Hoffman, now serves on the MN Department of Health’s Heart Safe Committee; a committee designed to help communities prepare for sudden cardiac arrest emergencies and acquire Heart Safe designations, like Ramsey’s.