MEDIA CONTACT
Ilana Lewis, (402) 314-9172,
ilana.lewis@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – On March 20, at 1:00 p.m., Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Emergency Services Program Director Tim Wilson will be joined by Ord, Nebraska Mayor Jeramy Sedlacek and cardiac arrest survivor Daryl Fletcher to donate an automated external defibrillator to Loup Valley Fitness.
Through the generosity of a multi-million-dollar grant awarded to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) were placed in law enforcement vehicles across the state.
On August 10, 2022, one of those AEDs was used by Officer Paul Deavers resulting in the successful resuscitation of Ord resident Daryl Fletcher. As part of that grant, the Stryker Corporation launched the Hearts on Duty Program which allows state coordinators to submit four success stories a year that are eligible to receive an AED provided at no cost to the survivor or law enforcement officer to donate to a location of their choosing in their community to further protect residents from sudden cardiac arrest.
Daryl Fletcher has chosen to donate an AED to the Loup Valley Fitness Center in Ord. In recalling his story to DHHS, Daryl mentioned that he always thought it would be fun to fly in a helicopter and the one time he was able to he was in no condition to remember it. DHHS grant coordinators worked with Tri-City LifeNet managers to get Daryl a ride he could remember.
Daryl will be delivering his AED to Loup Valley Fitness via LifeNet Helicopter.
Who: There will be short presentations by Tim Wilson, DHHS Office of Emergency Services Program Director, Jeramy Sedlacek, Ord Mayor, Jay Welch, Ord Police Chief, Paul Devers, former Ord Police Officer, Daryl Fletcher, cardiac arrest survivor, Matt Woodward, Loup Valley Fitness owner
What: Automated Electronic Defibrillator (AED) Donation to Loup Valley Fitness
Where: Loup Valley Fitness 306 S 15th St. Ord, NE
Daryl will land in the parking lot directly South of the Ord Quiz building at 1:00 p.m. where he will walk across the street to Loup Valley Fitness to deliver the device.
When: Monday, March 20, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.