HHS AWARDS $11.6 MILLION IN GRANTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING DEFIBRILLATORS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $11.6 million in grants to increase access to on-the-spot help for people who suffer heart attacks in rural America

"These grants will help rural communities buy automated external defibrillators, which have the ability to save the lives of people suffering heart attacks," Secretary Thompson said. "By helping communities purchase these devices and train emergency workers to use them, we are helping improve the odds for people who have heart attacks far from a hospital."

The Rural Access to Emergency Devices Grants will go to rural communities in 49 states and the U.S. territory of Guam to purchase FDA-approved automated external defibrillators and train emergency and community personnel in their proper use. Automatic defibrillators are lightweight, portable devices, which provide an electrical shock capable of restoring the normal heart rhythm of cardiac arrest victims, greatly improving chances of survival.

The grant program is administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through its Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Grant funds go first to state agencies, which are an integral part of community partnerships with emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, health clinics, nursing homes and schools.

"Spreading the benefits of these devices to people wherever they live is an important part of HRSA's commitment to improving the health and well-being of Americans who live in remote rural and frontier areas," says HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke.

A list of grantees follows:

Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act Grant Program, FY 2003

Organization City State Award

Alabama Department Montgomery Ala. $230,684
of Public Health

Alaska Dept. of Juneau Alaska $265,168
Health and Social
Services

Arizona Department Phoenix Ariz. $209,438
of Health Services

Arkansas Department Little Rock Ark. $270,981
of Health

California Emergency Sacramento Calif. $199,296
Medical Services
Authority

Colorado Rural Denver Colo. $223,709
Health Center

Connecticut Hartford Conn. $157,147
Department of Public
Health

Delaware Dept. of Dover Del. $177,513
Emergency Medical
Services

Florida Department Tallahassee Fla. $215,021
of Health

Georgia Department Atlanta Ga. $269,642
of Human Resources

Guam Department of Agana Guam $50,000
Public Health

Hawaii Department of Honolulu Hawaii $207,010
Health

Idaho Department of Boise Idaho $260,000
Health and Welfare

Illinois Department Springfield Ill. $234,952
of Public Health

Hoosier Uplands Mitchell Ind. $250,014
Economic Development
Corp.

Iowa Department of Des Moines Iowa $271,182
Public Health

Kansas Board of Topeka Kan. $259,834
Emergency Medical
Services

Kentucky Board of Frankfort Ky. $313,138
Emergency Medical
Services

Louisiana Dept. of Baton Rouge La. $241,025
Health and
Hospitals,
Office of Public
Health, Bureau of
EMS

Maine Emergency Augusta Maine $274,316
Medical Services

Massachusetts Dept Boston Mass. $166,504
of Public Health

Maryland Institute Baltimore Md. $200,186
for EMS

Michigan Department Lansing Mich. $258,652
of Consumer &
Industry Services

Minnesota Emergency Minneapolis Minn. $250,308
Medical Services
Regulatory Board

Mississippi State Jackson Miss. $276,468
Department of Health

Missouri Dept. of Jefferson City Mo. $245,076
Health and Senior
Services

Dept. of Public Helena Mont. $275,341
Health and Human
Services

Nebraska State Lincoln Neb. $216,330
Department of Health

Board of Regents, Reno Nev. $172,039
Univ. of Nevada,
Reno

State of New Concord N.H. $218,173
Hampshire

American Red Cross Princeton N.J. $156,003
of Central New
Jersey

New Mexico Santa Fe N.M. $252,760
Department of Health

Health Research, Rensselaer N.Y. $232,540
Inc.

N.C. Dept. of Health Raleigh N.C. $276,593
and Human Services

University of North Grand Forks N.D. $231,239
Dakota

Ohio Department of Columbus Ohio $240,681
Public Safety

Oklahoma State Oklahoma City Okla. $242,367
Department of Health

Department of Human Portland Ore. $227,260
Resources

Pennsylvania State Harrisburg Pa. $263,903
Department of Health

South Carolina Columbia S.C. $228,190
Office of Rural
Health

South Dakota Pierre S.D. $213,330
Department of Public
Safety

Tennessee Department Nashville Tenn. $279,323
of Health

Texas Office of Austin Texas $244,110
Rural Community
Affairs

Utah Department of Salt Lake City Utah $221,701
Health

State of Vermont Burlington Vt. $250,000

Virginia Department Lakeside Va. $230,583
of Health

State of Washington Olympia Wash. $222,288

W.Va. Dept. of Charleston W.Va. $256,241
Health & Human
Resources

Department of Health Madison Wis. $241,006
and Family Services

Wyoming Department Cheyenne Wyo. $259,734
of Health

TOTAL: $11,628,999

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Note

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Last Revised: September 24, 2003