Howard County Joins Resuscitation Academy in Hosting Regional Conference on Cardiac Arrest Survival & Response

For Immediate Release: May 4, 2012 

 Two-day symposium aims to equip others with knowledge on improving a patient’s survival from sudden cardiac arrest 

 Marriottsville, MD – County Executive Ken Ulman will welcome more than 60 representatives from jurisdictions along the East Coast as they gather in Howard County next week for a two-day symposium aimed at improving survival of sudden cardiac arrest, the nation’s leading cause of death. 

For the first time ever, this intensive Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Experience Symposium (CARES), co-presented by the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) and the Resuscitation Academy (RA) of Seattle, Washington, will be held on the East Coast. The conference has attracted dispatchers, providers and emergency medical services coordinators of state-wide cardiac arrest initiatives and will take place May 7th - 8th at the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center. 

“Howard County is excited to be hosting such an informative event, whose purpose is to teach other agencies and states personnel effective techniques that they can help improve one’s survival from a Sudden Cardiac Arrest,” said County Executive Ulman.  “Recognized internationally as experts in the science and techniques of maximizing survival of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, it is an honor and a privilege to have folks from Seattle’s Resuscitation Academy share their knowledge in combating our nation’s number one cause of death.” 

Currently, Howard County’s rate of witnessed cardiac arrest survival is 40%. In Seattle, where the faculty of the Resuscitation Academy has set the gold standard, the survival rate is 50 percent. This is the first time the highly respected RA faculty has taken their expertise “on the road” for this course, bringing their time-tested strategies to others. 

“The team from Howard County has taken the spirit of the Resuscitation Academy to heart. When a community takes strides to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, there are no magic bullets – only hard work and commitment,” said Resuscitation Academy Director Ann Doll. “Dr. Seaman and his team have taken on this work with sincerity and dedication, snatching life from the jaws of death one patient at a time.”  

HCDFRS’ medical director, Dr. Kevin Seaman, added, “We are indebted to our partners who helped sponsor this symposium, the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) and the Heart Rescue Project, as well Fire Chief William Goddard, III and County Executive Ken Ulman whose support helped make this conference possible.” 

Dr. Robert Bass, executive director of the MIEMSS will join the team in providing instruction during the symposium. Topics will include hands-only CPR methods, how to dispatch CPR in the 911 center for greater patient survival, building and funding CPR programs and case studies profiling successful outcomes. 

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