Feingold Bill Brings Life-Saving Technology
to Rural Victims of Cardiac Arrest
Senator’s
Legislation Increases Rural Access to Automated External
Defibrillators
July 1, 2000
Arbor Vitae, WI -- U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
today highlighted his legislation to give Wisconsin’s rural
areas better access to automated external defibrillators
(AEDs), the
medical devices used to aide victims of cardiac arrest. Feingold
recently joined Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine to
introduce the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act, a bill to
provide $25
million to expand access to AEDs, and to provide for grants to give
people the training they need to learn how to operate
defibrillators.
On June 28th, the Senate passed a version of the
Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act by supporting an amendment which puts $4
million dollars toward purchasing AEDs for rural areas and training
personnel for the 2001 fiscal year. "I’m very pleased
that the Senate supported my amendment to provide $4 million for purchasing AEDs and
training personnel in 2001," Feingold said. "Cardiac
arrest victims are in a race against time, and the better access
rural communities have to AEDs, the better the victim’s chance
of survival," Feingold said.
Feingold explained that increasing access to
defibrillators, which play a key role in the "chain of
survival" for cardiac arrest victims, is a simple, effective
way of improving the chances of survival for victims of cardiac
arrest in rural areas. In fact, the American Heart Association
estimates that over 50,000 lives could be saved each year if AEDs
were more easily accessible. Fortunately, recent technological
advances have made the newest generation of AEDs inexpensive –
approximately $3,000 – and simple to operate. Because of these
advancements in AED technology, it is now practical to train and
equip fire department personnel, police officers, and other
community organizations, as Feingold’s legislation would
do.
"I have introduced the Rural Access to
Emergency Devices Act to provide rural communities with the
defibrillators they need to help save lives," Feingold said.
"I hope my
legislation’s simple, common-sense approach can give rural
communities the training and equipment they need to give rural
victims of cardiac arrest a fighting chance at survival."
Feingold's 42nd Listening Session of 2000, and the 546th
since he was first elected in 1992, was held at the Arbor Vitae Town
Hall starting at 10:45
a.m.
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