October 4, 2023 | From City of New Orleans
New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, Health Department and NOLA Public Schools Receive Lifesaving Equipment Donation from Laerdal Medical Inc.
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS), New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) and New Orleans Public Schools (NOLA-PS) today received a donation of 100 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Anytime Kits and 15 Mama Birthie training manikins from Laerdal Medical Inc.
"We are excited that our partners at Laerdal Medical Inc. are generously donating 100 CPR Anytime Kits and 15 Mama Birthie manikins to local schools in the City of New Orleans,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “These kits and manikins will allow our area schools to offer lifesaving training and skills to faculty, staff and, of course, our students. Learning how to save a life can be empowering, and this is a great opportunity for our young people to learn lifesaving techniques. Once again, the City of New Orleans is truly leading in providing our people with all the necessary tools and resources to cultivate a safe environment.”
This generous donation is monumental for the city and public schools. Through this, NOLA Public Schools will be equipped with top-notch equipment that will ensure students and facilities are second to none in emergency response. It is also in direct alignment with the new State of Louisiana requirement that all graduating high school students must be CPR trained.
"No matter how innovative we are, the most vital key to survival begins before EMS even arrives on the scene,” said NOEMS Chief Bill Salmeron. “Early and effective CPR and early detection are vital to saving lives, and this is done by the folks on the scene. It is important to be trained in CPR and how to use an Automated external Defibrillator (AED), and much of this training is now happening in high schools. This is why this donation will strengthen the ability to better train our students in CPR.”
“There is really something special about teaching our young people this lifesaving skill,” said NOHD Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno. “Many of them feel they cannot conduct CPR or are scared, but once we break it down and simplify it, we are really opening them up to a whole new world. There really is no substitute for the training provided by these Mama Birthie Manikins, having the benefit to train and review what you could have or should have done in a safe environment, really makes you that much better of a provider.”
“It is a fantastic privilege to be here today in the City of New Orleans,” said Tore Laerdal, Chief Executive of Laerdal Inc. “Since 1960, we have been fully devoted to creating training equipment and simulators to train the public, first responders and hospital personnel. We are honored to be here today to make this donation to New Orleans Public Schools and build on the meaningful impact this will have on our youth.”
Through NOHD and partners, these 15 Mama Birthie manikins will be instrumental in improving labor and delivery training for area providers, better preparing them to ensure the health and well-being of mothers across our city. Louisiana is among the worst in the nation in terms of maternal mortality rates, and the Cantrell Administration, along with NOHD and area healthcare providers, are actively working to change this to protect mothers and newborns. From the new Universal Home Visits program to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic at New Orleans East Hospital, the City is prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of mothers and their families.
# # #