Helmsley grant funds equipment for G & P

    Every Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officer, as well as its park facilities, is now equipped with automated external defibrillators, thanks to The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
    In an ongoing effort to improve the cardiac system of care in the Upper Midwest, the Trust awarded a grant of $6.4 million to equip every law enforcement agency with the equipment. Game and Parks received 119 of the new AEDs.
    The grant, facilitated through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, also provided training.
    “Seconds count during a cardiac arrest,” said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley trustee.         “We know in Nebraska first responders often have great distances to cover. This funding will ensure those who get to the scene before EMS arrives give patients a better shot at survival,” he said.
    Studies conducted by the American Heart Association demonstrate a dramatically higher survival rate for cardiac patients shocked by law enforcement, who are generally first on the scene, especially in rural areas.
    The devices feature industry-leading analysis technology that reduces pauses during CPR, allowing for improved blood circulation and better odds of survival.
    Game and Parks personnel were trained on the new devices in late May, and vehicles and parks’ facilities have been outfitted with them.
    AEDs previously used by some agencies will be relocated throughout communities, increasing the number of AEDs accessible to the public.