Cottage Grove first responders saved people in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in 2021 at a rate three times higher than the national average and more than two times higher than their partners in Minnesota.
In 2021, Cottage Grove firefighters, EMTs and police saved 21 percent of those that experienced a SCA. That’s according to information recently released in the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival Annual Report.
“Most of us got into public safety to help people and save lives,” said Cottage Grove Deputy Fire Chief Jon Pritchard. “We are proud of that 21% but our goal is to save 100 percent of those people in sudden cardiac arrest.”
Saving someone in cardiac arrest requires a team effort — as many as 10 people. Survival increases by up to 50% when someone receives immediate help, which only happened 30% of the time in Cottage Grove in 2021.
“Our firefighters and police officers train hard and are committed to help those in cardiac arrest but we cannot do it alone,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard encourages community members to take a CPR course offered by the Cottage Grove Fire Department. Contact him at jpritchard@cotttagegrovemn.gov or 651-458-2850 to get a course scheduled.