Press Release - Wednesday, February 14, 2007
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Saving a heart is as easy as checking the Heartsaver AED box on your income tax return!
CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Pat Quinn urged Illinois citizens to "save a heart and save a life" this Valentine's Day, reminding all taxpayers that saving a heart is as easy as checking a box, thanks to a new checkoff on this year's Illinois income tax form.
"Automated External Defibrillators are saving lives across Illinois and across the nation," Quinn said. "I urge all Illinois citizens to pause at line 28 on their income tax returns and check the Heartsaver AED box. All contributions will help to save hearts - and save lives - in Illinois."
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 200,000 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.
House Bill 542, sponsored by State Representatives Dan Burke (D-Chicago) and Mike Boland (D-Moline) and State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and initiated by Lt. Governor Quinn, created the checkoff on Illinois income tax forms. Contributions from Illinois taxpayers will help support the Heartsaver AED Trust Fund, which provides matching grants for defibrillator purchases to public schools, park districts, and public colleges and universities.
Quinn was joined in promoting the Heartsaver AED Trust Fund and its easy income tax checkoff by Rep. Dan Burke, Gwendolyn Woodridge of Illinois Department of Public Health and David Lipman of S.O.S technologies. Lipman performed an AED demonstration for the crowd, illustrating the ease with which AEDs can save lives.
And one man was on hand who certainly understands the importance of easy access to AEDs. Stan Nelson of Park Ridge was 74 when he suffered a heart attack while waiting for a California-bound flight at O'Hare Airport in October of 2002. Two bystanders were able to apply an AED within minutes of Nelson's collapse, allowing him to regain consciousness as medics were placing him on a stretcher. Though Nelson had no prior heart problems, he received single bypass surgery. He credits the quick application of an AED and excellent medical care with "helping me reach my 75th birthday."
"Through the donations of individuals to the Heartsaver AED Trust Fund, schools and parks districts will be assisted in purchasing defibrillators, and countless lives will be saved," Quinn said. "Increasing the public's access to life-saving technology is a responsibility we all share, and we are blessed in Illinois to have motivated citizens building a grassroots movement to make AEDs as common as fire extinguishers across the state."
Also joining Quinn was a crowd of motivated citizens - now known as Heartsaver Heroes - from across the Land of Lincoln who are building a grassroots movement to make life-saving Automated External Defibrillators as common as fire extinguishers in Illinois. Quinn honored 35 Illinois citizens who - through hard work and determination - are increasing access to defibrillators.
Quinn presented the following citizens with Heartsaver Hero awards:
Dean Elementary School students, Woodstock: Students at Dean Elementary held fundraisers and collected donations to raise enough money to purchase an AED - which they donated to the Woodstock Police Department. When the school later received a $2,000 donation, startled Principal Pedro Oliva Lara asked the students how to spend the money. The students decided the money should help another local school purchase an AED.
Erin Anderegg and Kim Keefe, Woodstock: Sara Kathleen Schacht was 18 years old when she died from sudden cardiac arrest in January of 2003. In her honor, Sara's mother, Erin Anderegg, founded the Sara Kathleen Schacht Memorial Foundation to help raise money for AEDs. The foundation has donated more than 40 defibrillators to public buildings in the Woodstock area.
Beth Garrow, Joliet: The Provena St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation is helping Will County schools purchase AEDs. The foundation presented a check to Joliet Public School District 86 to purchase 23 AEDs, and 13 additional AEDs have been purchased for the remaining schools.
Amanda Hunt, Naperville: Edward Hospital & Health Service's "Operation Jumpstart" donates AEDs to the local community. In June 2006, the operation presented CoACH Care Center (Coordinating Action for Children's Health) with an AED and AED training.
Knoxville Chief of Police Rick Pecsi: Chief Pecsi was on duty Thanksgiving Day of 2006 when he received a distress call. He arrived at the scene to find a woman on the floor and a neighbor performing CPR. Pecsi used the AED from his squad car to shock the patient's heart. The woman is alive today thanks to Chief Pecsi and his AED.
Darrian Ford, Chicago: Cardiac Science Corp. is donating an AED to be placed at a school in need.
Edward Gudas of the Max Schewitz Foundation & Wild Life Discovery Center, Lake Bluff: Dr. and Mrs. Schewitz lost their son to sudden cardiac arrest. They founded the Max Schewitz Foundation in his name. The Foundation is working with the Midwest Heart Association to bring free confidential EKG screening to Chicago-area schools and is underwriting half the cost of an AED for the Wild Life Discovery Center in Lake Forest.
Robert Personett, Ralph Wright, Michael Munoz, Glenn Zayner and Brian Humphrey, O'Hare Airport: Because AEDs have been placed at O'Hare Airport, these U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have made numerous saves.
Hank Bongers, Beloit, Wisconsin: Hank Bongers, Senior Manager of Safety and Security at Kerry Ingredients Inc., has ensured that all 35 store locations - including sites in Chicago, Melrose Park, Millstadt, and Gridley - have AEDs installed.
Lt. Don Knoll, DuPage County Sheriff's Department, Wheaton: All DuPage County squad cars are equipped with defibrillators in the vehicle.
J.J. Novak and Kathy Cole, Highland Park Hospital Health and Fitness Center, Buffalo Grove: When a 54-year-old man collapsed on the basketball court at Highland Park Hospital Health and Fitness Center, J.J. Novak was the first to respond. She started CPR and used an AED while Kathy Cole called 911. The victim - who was set to retire only days later - survived thanks to the quick thinking of Novak and Cole.
Rev. Delois Brown-Daniels and Rev. David Abrahamson, Lakeview: Rev. Brown Daniels of Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center launched a campaign to partner congregations with defibrillators. Rev. Abrahamson of St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in America answered the call, and St. Luke along with its associated school, is now equipped with a defibrillator. More congregations will soon be added to the growing list of AED-equipped churches.
Danielle Cortes DeVito, LaGrange: As president of Heart Savers & Educators Inc., an American heart association training center, Danielle Cortes placed an AED in the First Congregational Church of LaGrange last year.
Marco DeVito, Hillside Fire Department: As a paramedic and firefighter for the Hillside fire dept, Marco DeVito has placed two AEDs within easy access of Hillside first responders, as well as two AEDs in the Hillside Village Hall.
Mike Monell, Elgin: Thousands of Kane County residents use the many sporting venues that are offered through the Elgin Sports Complex. Mike Monell has been a driving force to ensure that AEDs are placed at all sporting sites.
Dale Moyer and Ellen Demertsidis, Chicago: Dale Moyer and Ellen Demertsidis of the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago respectively have been instrumental in ensuring AEDs are in place at Chicago Public Schools.
Bill Kling, Katie Connelly, Lee Ann Hassler, Sara McElmurry and Sean Wieber (AHA): The Lt. Governor enjoys a strong partnership with the American Heart Association to ensure greater access to AEDs.
Martha Dittmar, American Red Cross: The Lt. Governor also enjoys a strong partnership with the American Red Cross.
Eric Griswold and Chief Andrew Oparyk: Griswold's Emergency Care Consultants donated four AEDs to Chief Andrew Oparyk of the Harvard Police Department.
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 was signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Valentine's Day, 2005. And in June of 2006, Gov. Blagojevich signed a law creating the tax checkoff, allowing Illinois citizens to easily contribute to the Heartsaver AED Fund.
For more information about the Heartsaver AED Fund, log on to www.KeepIllinoisHealthy.org.
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