(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, appearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, stated that the new first aid program is alive and running as of Wednesday. Johnson and twelve other volunteers are now staffed with the equipment to respond to a medical emergency in their area and provide emergency care until the ambulance arrives.
Johnson says Cass County is 565 square miles, with volunteer responders scattered throughout the county.
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 received 50 thousand dollars from the state and 25 thousand from the county for training and equipment. Cass County is the first of the three counties receiving grant money for the first program off and running.
Those interested in joining or learning more about the program can contact Erik Johnson at cassCountyFirstAid.Erik@gmail.com. Or dial 712-249-8816.
