Prior Lake, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces the donation of 48 more Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in the month of January.

Twenty AEDs will go to Wright County, Minnesota, located on the western edge of the Twin Cities. The county is in the process of upgrading all their old AEDs. Buffalo Hospital in Wright County’s largest town of Buffalo, has agreed to match the SMSC donation.

So that every Minnesota State Patrol car will have an AED, the SMSC is donating 18 units to the State Patrol. In December 2007 the SMSC completed a three year donation of 199 AEDs to the Minnesota State Patrol to equip rural patrol cars. With the donation of 18 more in collaboration with the State of Minnesota, State Patrol squads in the metropolitan area will now be equipped. Six AEDs will go to two different tribal entities in Minnesota. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will receive four units, and the Grand Portage Ambulance Service will receive two. The town of Yachats, Oregon, will receive four AEDs, one each to its nursing home, community center, youth center, and community clinic.

The Mdewakanton Emergency Services Department administers the Mdewakanton LIFE program which donates defibrillators to organizations including law enforcement programs, charitable groups, and schools.

"The SMSC has an active AED program here on the SMSC reservation, with defibrillators in 24 different locations," said SMSC Director of Emergency Services Jim Muelken.

"We have had great success with the tribal responders and equipment, and we want to make sure others have that same opportunity," said SMSC Tribal Administrator Bill Rudnicki. Mdewakanton Emergency Services and Mystic Lake Casino Hotel Security officers have used defibrillators as part of their routine training and administering of assistance for Community members, staff, and guests for years. "Through the Mdewakanton LIFE Program, we have given away more than 300 defibrillators since 2004," he said.

In previous years the SMSC has donated defibrillators to local schools, tribes, fire departments, nursing homes, and other organizations.

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. A downloadable form is also available at www.mdefire.org.

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