Heartsaver Donates 47 LifeSaving AEDS to the TriState Area First Responders and Nonprofit Organizations

EVANSVILLE, IN – HeartSaver proudly presented 47 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Tri-State area first responders and nonprofit organizations at a ceremony on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The ceremony was held in the Pavilion, located on the third floor of the Orthopedic & Neuroscience Hospital on Deaconess Gateway Campus.

Five of the donated units came from a very special source. Local resident Don Neel was playing basketball at North High School in Spring of 2023 when he experienced a sudden cardiac event. Neel’s life was saved by a responding Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputy who happened to have a HeartSaver-donated AED in his cruiser.

Neel was on hand to address the gathered first responders, share his story, and hand off his donated units.

The other 42 units were funded thanks to money raised at HeartSaver’s February event. HeartSaver has now donated over 800 AEDs since its inception over a decade ago.

Having AEDs is essential for first responders as they are often first to arrive on the scene of a cardiac emergency. These life-saving devices can increase survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest victims by providing defibrillation as early as possible.

The recipients of the AEDs were: Poole Fire Rescue Department, Buckskin Volunteer Fire Department, Deaconess EMS, Webster First Responders, Belmont Fire/Rescue Department, Gibson County EMA – GC Highway Department, North Clay Fire Protection District, Francisco Volunteer Fire Department, Owensville Police, Somerville Volunteer Fire Department, McCutchanville Fire Department, Crossville Fire Department, Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, Evansville Police, Indiana State Police, Vanderburgh Sheriff’s Department, Southern Indiana Career and Tech Institute, Tecumseh High School – Officer Daniel Bullock, Boonville High School – Officer Bryan McKain, USS LST 325 Museum Ship, Burdette Park BMX, Littlestar ABA Therapy, Baptist Health Deaconess, Community One, Boonville Brickyard

Pickleball, Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association, Optimal ACCESS, and Evansville East Youth Baseball.

An AED is a portable device that can send an electric shock to the heart in an attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm. AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal if not treated within minutes.

HeartSaver, a program of The Heart Hospital and Deaconess Foundation, was created to reduce sudden death through the placement of life-saving AEDs throughout the Tri-State. It is an all-volunteer community organization.

“HeartSaver’s mission is to ensure life-saving equipment is readily available in our community,” said Kirsten Wagmeister, chairperson of the HeartSaver Committee. “We are thrilled to continue our work with these donations and are grateful for the support of our community.”

If you are interested in donating to HeartSaver to help place additional AEDs, please contact Penny Goshert at 812-842-3472.