(Atlantic) Cass County is one of three Iowa counties testing a new program to cut emergency response times in rural areas. Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg is sponsoring this program to send whoever is closest to the emergency to provide care until the ambulance arrives.
Erik Johnson, a first responder, is the Cass County Program Coordinator for the Iowa United First Aid Program. Johnson is seeking volunteers to join this first aid program in Cass County to provide a buffer between the 9.1.1 call and the arrival of an ambulance.
Johnson says this program aims to train and equip volunteers to respond and provide early access to first aid and CRP/AED. Johnson says Cass County covers 565 square miles.
Johnson says they are searching for volunteers with a background in CPR and AED.
Johnson says every second counts and the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest decreases for each minute that passes with CPR and defibrillation. He says establishing an AED program in communities is associated with nearly doubling the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival. Cass County receives 50 thousand dollars from the state and 25 thousand from the county for training and equipment.
Those interested in joining or learning more about the program can contact Erik Johnson at cassCountyFirstAid.Erik@gmail.com. Or dial 712-249-8816.
