Press Release - Tuesday, February 14, 2006
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QUINN URGES, "SAVE A HEART THIS VALENTINE'S DAY!"
CHICAGO -Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn announced a $10,000 donation by Walgreens to the Illinois Heartsaver AED Trust Fund.
Stan Nelson of Park Ridge was in attendance and recounted how an AED saved his life after he suffered a heart attack at O'Hare Airport. In October of 2002, the then-74-year-old Nelson collapsed while waiting for a California-bound flight at O'Hare International Airport. Two bystanders were able to apply an AED within minutes of Nelson's collapse, allowing him to regain consciousness as medics were placing him on a stretcher. Though Nelson had no prior heart problems, he received single bypass surgery. He credits the quick application of an AED and excellent medical care with "helping me reach my 75th birthday."
"Today is Valentine's Day and this special day is the right time to dedicate ourselves to the Illinois Heartsaver Initiative to make defibrillators as common as fire extinguishers in our state," Quinn said.
Each year, more than 300,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest.
Quinn was joined by John Gremer, Director of Community Relations of Walgreens and Sherry Caffrey-Villari, Director of the Chicago Heart Save Program at O'Hare Airport. The Chicago Heart Save Program has increased the survival rate from cardiac arrest from 1.8% to more than 60% at Chicago's airports. At Chicago airports alone, more than 36 lives have been saved in the past six years.
Erin Anderegg of Woodstock was also in attendance. After losing her one of her daughters, Sara Kathleen Schacht, to sudden cardiac arrest in June 2002, Anderegg has worked tirelessly to increase the availability of AEDs in public spaces. Her daughter, Hannah Schacht, was also on hand to talk about the importance of AEDs.
Representatives from the American Red Cross were in attendance as well as volunteer trainers from the American Heart Association who performed an AED demonstration.
"We salute Walgreens for their generous donation to the Illinois Heartsaver Trust Fund," Quinn said. "I encourage the people of Illinois to donate to the Heartsaver AED Fund to help save lives."
Quinn also urged passage of House Bill 542 which would create an income tax check-off allowing taxpayers to donate to the Heartsaver AED Fund.
The Heartsaver AED Fund provides 50% matching grants for defibrillator purchases to public schools, public colleges and public park districts.
In 2004, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Colleen O'Sullivan Law requiring defibrillators in schools, indoor park district facilities and physical fitness facilities. Colleen O'Sullivan, a staff attorney for the Illinois House of Representatives, died of heart complications in 2002 after exercising at a health club facility.
The Heartsaver AED Fund was signed into law by Governor Blagojevich on Valentine's Day in 2005. All physical fitness facilities are now required to have at least one AED and trained operator starting July 1, 2006, as well as an emergency response plan filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
For more information about the Heartsaver AED Fund, log on to www.StandingUpforIllinois.org.
The American Heart Association offers AED and CPR training in communities across Illinois. To find a class near you, visit www.americanheart.org and click on the "CPR & ECC" link. You may also contact 877-AHA-4CPR.
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