Reznet

Minnesota Tribe Equips Local Groups for Emergencies

By Anonymous

PRIOR LAKE, Minn.-The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces the donation of thirty defibrillators to local agencies through the Mdewakanton LIFE Program. Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are used to apply a lifesaving shock to an individual whose heart has stopped beating. Defibrillation is the only known therapy for most sudden cardiac arrests, according to the American Heart Association.

Five AEDs were approved to go to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Four AEDs went to Andover Fire/Rescue. One AED went to St. Peter Fire Department, and two AEDs went to the St. Hubert School in Chanhassen. In September 2007 a donation of five AEDs were approved for Shakopee Public Schools, four AEDs to Savage Police Department, four AEDs to Waconia Fire Department, four AEDs to Mayer Fire Department, and one to Village Market in Prior Lake.

The Mdewakanton Emergency Services Department administers the Mdewakanton LIFE program which donates free defibrillators to charitable organizations and schools and provides free training on their use.

"We have defibrillators in many locations across the reservation and have had great success with the tribal responders and equipment. Now we want to make sure others have that same opportunity," said SMSC Emergency Services Director Jim Muelken.

"Through the Mdewakanton LIFE Program, we have given away more than 220 defibrillators since 2004," he added.

In fiscal year 2007 the SMSC donated defibrillators to the Minnesota State Patrol (66), Minnesota Department of Public Safety (10), Scott County libraries (7), Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley (5), Savage Fire Department (4), Marystown Catholic Church (1), American Indian OIC (1), Our Lady of the Prairie Church and School (1), Valley Family Practice (1), Victoria Elementary School (1), the New Prague Police Department (1), Jordan Fire Department (2), Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service (4), and the Walker, Minnesota, ambulance service serving the Leech Lake Ojibwe reservation (2). In previous years the SMSC has donated defibrillators to the Minnesota State Patrol (66); fire departments (7), schools (9), clinics (4), police departments (2), churches (2), and other organizations (6).

Organizations in need of an AED may write a letter to the SMSC Business Council and mail it to Mdewakanton LIFE Program, Mdewakanton Emergency Services, 2330 Sioux Trail NW, Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372. Inquiries may be made to 952-233-1077 or go online to www.mdefire.org <http://www.mdefire.org> .

About Mdewakanton Emergency Services and the SMSC

Mdewakanton Emergency Services, a full-time, professional fire department staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota. The department responds to an average of 200 calls a month. In October 2004 Mdewakanton Fire added ambulance service and now makes an average of 60 ambulance transports a month.
The SMSC utilizes its financial resources from gaming and non-gaming enterprises to pay for all of the internal infrastructure of the Tribe, including but not limited to housing, roads, water and sewer systems, emergency services, and essential services to its Tribal members in education, health, and welfare. The SMSC has a charitable giving program which comes from a cultural and social tradition to assist those in need. Over the past several years the SMSC has donated more than $95.5 million to charitable organizations and Indian Tribes, including more than $ 20.5 million in fiscal year 2007. The SMSC is also the owner and operator of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, The Meadows at Mystic Lake Golf Course, Playworks, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, and other enterprises on the reservation south of the Twin Cities.

This press release and other information may be downloaded from the SMSC website.