Medtronic’s HeartRescue programme to focus on schools

Medtronic has announced that its HeartRescue programme is going to focus on schools following the release of new grant guidelines.

The Medtronic Foundation confirmed that for 2008 priority for funding will be given to school programmes that educate students about sudden cardiac arrest and prepare them in case of an emergency.

To increase the number of trained citizens, the HeartRescue programme will focus grants on schools, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations that develop schemes to prepare students to recognise sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and prepare them to act in an emergency,

School-based initiatives will be recognised in the US, Canada and Europe, with Medtronic also funding first responder public access defibrillation efforts across many different countries.

Over the last eight years, the Medtronic Foundation has provided over $4 million (2 million pounds) in HeartRescue grants and partnered with more than 150 communities and organisations around the world.

The company states that survival from SCA depends on immediate response with CPR and automated external defibrillators as well as prompt action from bystanders.

Last month, Medtronic announced the initiation of the first human study of its Endurant graft system to be used for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.