About Us

Heart Strong Monticello is a non–profit organization working towards a Heart Safe Community designation in our local community of Monticello, Minnesota.

Our missions are to raise awareness of how to help victims of sudden cardiac arrest through implementing CPR and AED training sessions and increasing the accessibility of AEDs throughout our community. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a national public health crisis that affects 1,000 people a day and strikes all ages.¹  Through training sessions and community awareness events, Heart Strong Monticello is dedicated to increasing the number of bystanders who will administer hands-only CPR and use an available AED in the critical minutes prior to the arrival of Emergency Medical Services.  Additionally, we are committed to raising funds to expand the number of accessible AEDs within our community. We are strictly a volunteer organization and all our funds are used for educational purposes and AED purchases.

What is a Heart Safe Community?

A Heart Safe Community designation is awarded by the Minnesota Department of Health after specific criteria has been met for preparing its citizens to recognize when someone suffers Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how to respond. Resources to help us achieve this designation are provided through a partnership between the American Heart Association, Minnesota Department of Health, U of M Resuscitation Consortium, Minnesota Ambulance Association, and the Minnesota Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Network. 

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10% every minute without CPR.²

Community partners

34

SCA calls were responded to by CentraCare Health-Monticello EMS in 2023³

31

SCA events happened at home, while 3 happened in a public location³

3

of the 34 SCA victims survived to hospital discharge³

1,000

people per day are affected by SCA, and it strikes all ages⁴

Learn how to get involved

  1. Benjamin EJ, Virani SS, Callaway CW, Chamberlain AM, Chang AR, Cheng S, Chiuve SE, Cushman M, Delling FN, Deo R, de Ferranti SD. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2018 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018 Mar 20;137(12):e67-492. Table 16-1.

  2. https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/CPR-Files/Training-Programs/AED-Implementation/2023-updates/AED-fact-sheet-Feb-2023.pdf AED Fact Sheet February 2023

  3. CARES Survival Report. CentraCare Health - Monticello EMS. Date of Arrest :  01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023. Non-Traumatic Etiology.. Published: April 23, 2024.

  4. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Statistics is a review of the AHA Heart and Stroke Statistics - 2022 Update.