Photo:  L to R: Beth Schommer, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, UWRF; Bill Folk, Director, Falcon Center Operations, UWRF; Renee Hamdorf, Coordinator, HeartSafe Communities, Allina Health; David Miller, President, River Falls Area Hospital, Allina Health; Jeff Rixmann, Director, River Falls Area Ambulance Service; Dean Van Galen, Chancellor, UWRF; Scot Simpson, Administrator, City of River Falls; Heather Logelin, Director, Foundation and Community Engagement, River Falls Area Hospital, Allina Health; Chris Mueller, Assistant Chancellor of University Advancement, UWRF and UWRF Foundation President.

Falcon Center receives seven AEDs from Allina Health River Falls Area Hospital

February 8, 2017--The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has received seven new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) donated by Allina Health River Falls Area Hospital. The AEDs will be placed in the Falcon Center, the new health and recreation complex on campus, just in time for American Heart Month.

An AED is a portable device that administers an electric shock to the heart when it suddenly stops beating in order to restore a normal rhythm. The devices have saved several lives locally, according to River Falls Ambulance Director Jeff Rixmann. There are now more than 200 AEDs in the River Falls area community.

"AEDs are one of the vital tools we provide to citizens of our city in an effort to save lives," said Allina Health River Falls Area Hospital President David R. Miller. In River Falls, a 'chain of survival' is already built. It includes our citizens recognizing a medical emergency, calling 9-1-1, EMS/ambulance services, linkage to a hospital and integration with medical specialist. Adding more AEDs to heavily populated areas in the community, such as UWRF, helps to support this system so that a heart attack is treated early and quickly."

"The devices will be a great asset to the university and will provide assurance to all who come to the Falcon Center that, should the need arise, we have the life-saving tools that are vital in the early moments of a cardiac event," said Bill Folk, director of Falcon Center operations at UWRF.

For more information about the donation, email rachel.seroka@allina.com or beth.schommer@uwrf.edu.