Washburn ambulance receives life-saving device
By Michael Johnson, Editor
North Dakota is in the Class 5 category for STEMI death rates, making it one of the highest STEMI death rates in the nation. Fast prognosis can cut that rate dramatically. A STEMI is a form of heart attack caused by a complete blockage to the heart. When a matter of minutes is the difference between life and death, you want to have speed on your side. One new piece of equipment at the Washburn Ambulance Bay combines life-saving features with advanced technology capable of seeing if there is a blocked vessel in the victim’s heart. “We’re very excited about this,” said Mary Devlin, Washburn Ambulance Service secretary and EMT intermediate. The Washburn Volunteer Ambulance Service recently received a LIFEPAK 15 from Mission: Lifeline, an American Heart Association community-based initiative aimed at improving the system of heart attack patients throughout North Dakota. The program was made possible by $7.1 million in funding including a $4.4 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The State of North Dakota also provided $600,000.
