Rural AED funds now available

May 24, 2002

HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced in the May 22 Federal Register the availability of $12.5 million in grants for rural communities to buy and learn how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The new grant program, created by the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act and managed by HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy, provides funds for the purchase of FDA-cleared AEDs and for training by nationally recognized organizations. Awards will be made to community partnerships, which are defined as consortiums of first responders (e.g., EMS, law enforcement and fire departments) and local for- and non-profit entities (e.g. community hospitals, rural health clinics, senior citizen facilities, faith-based organizations and schools without AEDs). HRSA expects to award approximately 50

Application kits are available from the HRSA Grants Application Center, 901 Russell Aven., Suite 450, http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/#providers.

The deadline for letters of intent is June 7^th and the deadline for applications is July 15^th. Guidance materials will be available by May 29^th at http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/aed.htm.

For further information, contact Evan Mayfield at 301-443-0835 or ruralaed@hrsa.gov.

For the Federal Register announcement, click here: ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/fedreg052302.pdf

For the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act, click here: http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/aedact.htm.