Activating Community Champions in Resuscitation: Partnering for Change

Summary: Seven Rivers Cardiac Arrest and Education (7R CAPE) group, an active non-profit community group will present how it has helped bring awareness of sudden cardiac arrest to the region, along with training, education, and hands-on support. Traditional and unconventional ways of working with the public will be shared.

Synopsis: We know that initiating CPR and AED use as soon as possible is key to increasing survival rates from SCA. In many areas of the country, this means activating citizens and lay responders and deploying AED’s widely. Barriers to this include financial constraints, but more importantly, lack of a rescuer mindset and willingness to begin resuscitation. Community activists can be a bridge between EMS and other professionals and the community through a variety of methods. Community activists have connections, access, and respect within the community and are passionate extenders for professional rescuer organizations and healthcare organizations. They understand the hesitations and fears of the lay public and can provide education and training targeted to these issues. Community activist groups can also simplify the complexities of purchasing, monitoring, and updating AED’s for non-professionals. Seven Rivers Cardiac Arrest and Education (7R CAPE) group will share its journey, successes and failures, highlight unique programs, and suggest ways for EMS and health professionals to encourage and support such groups. The role such community activist groups can play in helping communities meet HEARTSafe Community status will be explored.
7R CAPE has been an active, regional non-profit organization for the past 14 years. It recently assisted the City of La Crosse Wisconsin achieve HEARTsafe Community designation and is currently assisting the City of La Crescent, Minnesota in its application.