News Release

Contact Sandi Weber to schedule an AED upgrade
Ph: 608-784-1568
Email: sweber@tristateambulance.org

March 30, 2007

Media Contact: Chris Stauffer, Marketing & Corporate Communications, (608) 775-6622

Free defibrillator updates from Tri-State Ambulance

Have you checked the battery in the defibrillator down the hall? Is the defibrillator compliant with the new American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines? Odds are the answer to that question is no. That’s why members of Tri-State Ambulance will inspect and reprogram all automated and external defibrillators or AED in the area for free.

            To better inform the public about the changes and how the Tri-State Ambulance checks will take place, a news conference has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 5 at the Tri-State Ambulance headquarters located at 221 Buchner Place in La Crosse. Paramedics will demonstrate the process and answer any questions about why the updating is necessary.

            Many AEDs were placed in businesses, schools and public places before the American Heart Association changed its AED guidelines. “We’ll re-program the defibrillator to match AHA recommendations and even check the batteries and pads,” says Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, director, Tri-State Ambulance. “It really doesn’t take long and the best part is, we’ll do it for you at no cost.”

            The process only takes about ten minutes and Tri-State Ambulance personnel will actually service the AED at your site. “If there is an AED at city hall will go there. If there is an AED in a business, we’ll go there too,” says Zavadsky. “Having life-saving equipment on hand is one thing. Making sure that it operates to maximum efficiency is something else.

            In addition to the battery and programming check, Tri-State Ambulance will register all community AEDs for future updates and more importantly to allow the dispatch center to flag locations where AEDs have been placed. “The next time the AHA makes changes we’ll have a list to start from and if we get a call at an address flagged as having an AED, the dispatchers can advise the callers to get the AED and bring it to the patient” says Zavadsky.

            Anyone interested in having an AED inspected and reprogrammed, contact Tri-State Ambulance at (608) 784-1127. Inspections will take place through May 31. Tri-State Ambulance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gundersen Lutheran.

 

Freedom Honor Flight

On October 8th, 2008 Tri-State State Ambulance will provide four fully equipped and seasoned paramedics to accompany a group of U.S. veterans to Washington, D.C.  The Freedom Honor Flight pays tribute to our American heroes by fully funding their trip to visit their war memorials.  Tri-State Ambulance is honored to contribute our skilled paramedics to this important event.  Please visit the Freedom Honor Flight website to learn more.


TSA Medics Participate in Blue Planet Run
The 2007 Blue Planet Run Relay started at the United Nations building in New York on June 1st, 2007 and continued on schedule for 95 days ending back in New York on Sept 4th.  Medical support for this round-the-world event was primarily provided by TSA paramedics Kevin Kuchar, Mark Tweet, and Rick Barton.



Learn more about the Blue Planet Run and the Tri-State Ambulance connection here.