Packers and Bellin Health team up to donate AEDs and offer training to schools, groups
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Dozens of groups across Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula will receive life-saving equipment, thanks to the green and gold.
This winter, the Green Bay Packers pledged to fund $100,000 toward providing Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) to eligible facilities in need, along with training from Bellin Health.
It comes in response to the cardiac emergency experienced by Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin on the field.
During National CPR and AED Awareness Week in June, 80 groups will receive their AEDs.
The groups selected include schools and school districts, as well as youth and recreational sports organizations, in the following counties: Barron, Brown, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Delta (MI), Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green, Iron, Jackson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marinette, Marquette (MI), Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Walworth, Waukesha, Wood.
While the Packers and Bellin Health recognize this effort won’t be able to provide units to every location that needs one, the attention around this topic serves a valuable purpose in encouraging facilities to recognize the benefits of having an AED on-site. For organizations seeking help obtaining an AED, a list of resources can be found here.
Bellin Health currently offers AED and CPR training opportunities throughout the year. Click here to learn more.
Approximately 350,000 cardiac arrest events happen outside of hospitals each year, and unfortunately, around half of those people don’t get the help they need until an ambulance arrives. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, more than 10,000 people statewide are hospitalized after a heart attack each year, including nearly 400 people annually in Brown County.
