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Quinn celebrates CPR and AED Awareness Week with Illinois Heartsaver Heroes



CHICAGO- June 4, 2008. In honor of the first-ever "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week," Lt. Governor Pat Quinn honored 29 Illinois citizens with Heartsaver Hero Awards.

Heartsaver Heroes are individuals who have either saved a life using an AED or served as a citizen advocate in the growing grassroots movement to make AEDs as common as fire extinguishers in Illinois.

"Automated External Defibrillators are saving lives across Illinois and across the nation," Quinn said during a June 4 event at the James R. Thompson Center. "There are people standing in this room who would not be here today to tell their story if it weren't for an AED and a quick thinking Illinois citizen who knew how to use it."

Daniel Kelly certainly understands how important an easily accessible AED can be. The 50-year-old was out for a jog when he suffered a sudden heart attack. First responder and Kenilworth Police Officer Earl Tuckman applied a life-saving shock from an AED to Daniel's heart. Because of the AED and Earl's quick thinking, Daniel is alive today and will be on hand Wednesday to help present Earl with his Heartsaver Hero award.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are portable, life-saving devices that can be used to restore natural heart rhythm to someone in cardiac arrest. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Illinois, claiming the lives of more than 250,000 Americans each year. The American Red Cross estimates that 50,000 people across the country could be saved if AED machines were more readily accessible.

"The use of CPR and AEDs can and has made a tremendous difference in so many lives," said John Amato, chairman of the Metro Chicago Board of the American Heart Association. "The more people who learn how to effectively administer these tools, the more lives will be saved."

In 2004, the Lt. Governor's office joined with the Illinois General Assembly to pass the landmark Colleen O'Sullivan Law requiring defibrillators in schools, indoor park district facilities and physical fitness facilities. Colleen O'Sullivan, a staff attorney for the Illinois House of Representatives, died of heart complications in 2002 after exercising at a health club.

At Quinn's urging, the General Assembly also created the Heartsaver AED Fund, which helps make AEDs more affordable by providing matching grants to schools, indoor park district facilities and fitness facilities. And just yesterday, the law was officially expanded to make all outdoor park district facilities eligible to apply for grants. Illinois citizens are encouraged to become Heartsaver Heroes by donating to the fund, which is managed through the Illinois Department of Public Health.

For the list of 2008 Heartsaver Heroes, click here.

For more information, please visit: StandingUpForIllinois.org/heart



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