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     May 14, 2003 - 707 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ - The American Red Cross of Central Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ has partnered with the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police Community Affairs Bureau to ensure safer communities throughout Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ. This initiative, designed to train emergency personnel and speed help to victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in rural areas, is well underway with over 150 troopers already trained.

     The funding for the project was made possible through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy Rural Access to Emergency Devices Grant Program which provides funding to rural communities to purchase automated external defibrillators and provide training in their use and maintenance. The American Red Cross of Central Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ received an award of over $150,000 on behalf of the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police.

     Through the grant the Red Cross is able to provide training to approximately 250 State Troopers in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and will certify 20 of those State Troopers as American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid Instructors. Additionally, the grant provides for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators and enough training supplies and equipment to enable the State Police Community Affairs Bureau to become self-sufficient for future training and retraining.

     "This is just another way that the Red Cross is demonstrating its commitment to creating safer communities for families and individuals throughout Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ," says Kevin Sullivan, CEO of the Central Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ chapter of the Red Cross. Each year, 250,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest. Medical research shows that at least 100,000 lives could have been saved if only AEDs were within easy access to the patient. The State Police Community Affairs Bureau is responsible for patrolling rural areas throughout Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ and is required to respond to all emergencies within those communities.

     According to the demographics of the grant, an average of 3-5 units will be distributed to eleven stations of the Community Affairs Bureau throughout seven counties. The AED Units will then be placed in select patrol cars assigned to that station.

     At the time of the grant award, no vehicles assigned to the Community Affairs Bureau were equipped with defibrillators. In Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ, the average survival rate for people suffering cardiac arrest is 4%, which based on numbers and percentages converts to 32.4% of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ residents who will die from SCAs.

     The American Red Cross is a volunteer led, humanitarian organization, supported by community donations and dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. For more information on the programs and services of the American Red Cross of Central Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ and / or to learn how you can get involved please visit our website at .

     Media Note: Representatives from the Red Cross, NJ State Police and office of the Attorney General of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ will be in attendance. Additionally, representatives from the office of the Governor, NJ State Office of Rural Health and the State Department of Health and Senior Services-Office of Emergency Medical Services are expected to attend. Interviews will be possible before and after the press conference. We invite the media to film an actual training session and the delivery of the AED units to the State Police.

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