A 501c3 Certified Non-Profit Organization

April 2023 Newsletter

2023 "Save A Life Golf Tournament"

This year:

New Date, New Place, Shot Gun Start!

Sponsor our Golf Tournament!

Support our only fundraiser of the year by becoming a sponsor.

Contact Kaitlyn Gilk- Kaitlyn@advocates4health.org

320-333-3119

Women & Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Check out this amazing post from London Hearts Charity on Linkedin. The sad reality is women are less likely to receive lifesaving care when experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Improvement on this issue is a must! We love to see all the improvements AED companies are making to improve awareness of this issue. Also, CPR trainers addressing this issue in training sessions and ensuring people any help is better than doing nothing.

Having female manikins for training and images of females with the AED pads on are just a few changes that can improve the odds of women receiving life-saving CPR and the use of an AED.

The Shocking Truth About AEDs

~Click Video to Watch~

Meet the Advocates For Health Board

The Advocates For Health Executive Board is full of individuals who want to change the outcomes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. They all have a variety of expertise in different aspects of their lives that add value to our board. Here is our first set of Board members you will meet this month!

Brenda Lodermeier

Position on board: 

 CPR Instructor Trainer – Public Educator

Reason for serving on the board: 

Paying it forward. 

Experience:

Currently in my 41st year in the volunteer fire rescue service. Includes 13 years as a career asst. Fire Marshal City of St. Cloud. 18 ½ years of Waite Park Heavy Rescue Squad, 28 years on Rockville Fire & Rescue. Secretary for the department for 10 years and served on the Relief Fire Board.  25 plus years as American Red Cross & American Heart Association as an Instructor Trainer for CPR, First Aid, and Advanced First Aid. Instructor at the St. Cloud Technical College (6 years) Instructor for recertification of Police, Fire & EMS services.  Past Civil Defense Director for City of Rockville.  Grant reviewer and writer for FEMA grants.  

What you enjoy doing in your free time: 

 Member of the Central MN Woodcarving Club. Teacher of Pyrography (wood burning). I volunteer at Heavenly Paws Pet Cremation facility. 

Bruce Bechtold

 Position on board:

Board member

Why you accepted the position as a board member (reasoning for serving on the board): 

I am impressed with how Advocates for Health has been collaborating with local citizens and organizations. My past career in public safety made me more aware of the need for AED's in the community to save lives. I felt that this position was a good fit for me and gave me a way to give back to my community in my retirement years.

Experience:

I am retired from the Stearns County Sheriff's Office after serving 32 years in various capacities. My last 14 years were as the Chief Deputy Sheriff. My career made me aware of the increased importance of immediate intervention during a sudden cardiac arrest. This career put me in many homes performing CPR on residents. During the years before the inception of the AED many lives were lost. I saw how first responders were saving lives with early intervention. Now with ordinary citizens having access to an AED prior to the arrival of a first responder, more lives are being saved

What you enjoy doing in your free time: 

I enjoy spending time with my family. I love traveling, hiking, cycling, and almost any outdoor activity.

Life Accomplishments/Awards:

I had a rewarding career in law enforcement and rose to the rank of Chief Deputy Sheriff. I have served on many volunteer committees with my community and church and am currently a co-chair for the JoeTown Rocks concert and festival. When I was 50 I participated in my first triathlon and have completed several since.

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