Saving Hearts in Our Communities

Saving Hearts in Our Communities (SHOC) is Carver County's Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) program. PAD programs focus on making automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) available in public places for use with victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

The SHOC Committee, comprised of public health officials, emergency medical technicians, local fire department personnel and concerned citizens, developed the mission and infrastructure for the SHOC Program. SHOC is working to save lives in our community by increasing and improving awareness, access, and use of AEDs. It also provides information from the American Heart Association on heart disease and prevention, the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, emergency intervention, and follow-up care.

SHOC maintains a registry of AED sites and a map of where AEDs are located in the county. This registry and specific location information can be accessed by 9-1-1 Dispatch to find the nearest AED in a sudden cardiac arrest emergency. The SHOC program offers AED site management plans, AED inspection checklists, and training resources.

What is an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)?An automatic external defibrillator is a small portable electronic device that can be used by trained non-professionals as well as Emergency Medical professionals. It analyzes the heart’s rhythm and tells the user to deliver a defibrillation shock only if needed. An AED will give voice prompts and screen displays to aid the user in how to attach the external electrodes, when to do CPR, when to stand clear while the AED is analyzing, and when to deliver an electrical shock to the victim if needed.

Register an AED with the SHOC program and receive a management plan template. We also connect you with CPR/AED training resources. Email SHOC@co.carver.mn.us or call (952) 361-1330.

Please note that if you have an AED purchased prior to January 2006, you should contact your manufacturer to determine how to upgrade your AED to the new cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) standards.

SHOC provides the following documents:

• AED Management Plan template for sites - version April 2012
• MN Good Samaritan Law 604A.01
• Standing Orders for AED Use - Protocol 2013
• AED Inspection Checklist 2012
• AED Site Registration Form 2012
• AED Training Contact List 2012
• Carver County SHOC Program information 2012 
• AED Poster
• Key Questions on AEDs
• SHOC Program Brochure

Grant resource links:
- Mdewakanton Emergency Services Life Program 

In the News

Study finds that nearly a quarter of potentially deadly AED failures are caused by problems with batteries.

Featured in SCA Foundation Magazine

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation recently launched its "You Can Save a Life at School"™ national awareness campaign for schools. The campaign's magazine profiles SCA survivor Lucy Le May, a Chaska Middle School West teacher who was saved with CPR and AED use by parents and school staff on New Student Orientation Night. Another article, "Making the Case to Your School Board," features comments from Kristi Juaire, Licensed School Nurse and Health Service Coordinator for Eastern Carver County School District 112.

SHOC recognized the one-year anniversary of the CPR/AED save in Carver County during National CPR/AED Week June 1-7, 2009 by submitting the press release Chaska teacher marks one-year anniversary of being saved from cardiac arrest to local newspapers.