A new Outdoor AED (Automated External Defibrillator) outside of Northstar Gas and Grocery in Henning could be the difference between life and death for local residents during a time of need. 

The Henning Fire and Rescue sponsored the AED project, made possible with funds from the Offutt Family Foundation Community Builder Grant program.  Henning Firefighter Jon Eckhoff, who is an employee of R.D. Offutt Company was able to nominate the local fire department for the grant.  The fire department determined if they were selected to receive the grant funds, they would use the funding to sponsor the Public Access Outdoor AED project.  

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States.  Because early access to an AED greatly increases survival in the case of sudden cardiac arrest, in addition to CPR, having a publicly accessible AED present in the community is an invaluable resource. 

To implement the project in Henning, the Henning Fire Department partnered up with Advocates for Health, a non-profit organization in Central Minnesota who have installed more than 300 Smart Monitored AED Cabinets in communities. Working with the staff at Advocates for Health, the fire department was able to install the Smart Monitored AED Cabinet at Northstar Gas and Grocery in Henning. In addition to the AED, the cabinet also houses a bleeding control kit as well as naloxone for opioid overdose emergencies. The cabinet is temperature controlled to allow for year round use. The sensors in the cabinet monitor the cellular connection, power, temperature and door opening and closing.  There are additional sensors which determine if the AED is removed from the cabinet.  

If the AED is needed, the cabinet will take a picture when the cabinet is opened and an alarm will sound. Once the AED is removed, the monitoring center can alert 911 that the AED has been accessed.  

If needed for a sudden cardiac arrest, call 911, then open the cabinet, grab the AED and follow the AED directions.  

The Henning Fire Department is grateful to the Offutt Family Foundation for helping to make this project possible, and Rahn Oil/Northstar Gas and Grocery for allowing them to place the cabinet at their business.