American Red Cross - Muskingum Lakes Chapter

NEW PHILADELPHIA – The Eastern Ohio AED Initiative invites the community to experience the next best thing to being in the Big Easy. The fourth annual, “Night in New Orleans” fundraiser, to benefit the Initiative, will be held at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas on February 4th at 6:30pm. The feature sponsor for the event is Smith Ambulance Service.

Expect to be taken straight to Bourbon Street while dining on authentic New Orleans cuisine and dancing to the Zydeco rhythms from the group Mo’ Mojo. The evening’s menu provided by Trax Diner will feature: Muffaletta Sandwiches, New Orleans Style Seafood Salad, Gulf Shrimp Cocktail, Blackened Chicken Salad with Mixed Greens, Low Country Shrimp Boil, Red Bean Rice & Andouille Sausage, Fried Catfish and Dirty Rice. Topping off the menu will be a King Cake, Bourbon Balls and Pralines.

Opportunities to bid on an array of exhilarating getaways and exquisite gifts as well as theme baskets at the silent and live auctions will benefit the Initiative. The live auction this year will feature items for The Best of Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburgh including tickets to Cirque du Soleil or touring Broadway shows, a Trek 700Hybrid fitness bike, Tail-Gate Party Package, Primo Water Flavorstation, Limo ride to dinner with tickets to “The CompleteWorld of Sports” at the Performing Arts Center as well as other great items.

Reservations for the event are $35.00 per person and can be made www.tusc.kent.edu/pac or call 330-308-6400 by Friday, February 3rd.

The Eastern Ohio AED Initiative is a non-profit program in partnership with the American Red Cross, Muskingum Lakes Chapter. “Since February of 2009, the Initiative has provided a total of 200 to the community,” said Chad Conrad, Red Cross executive director. Conrad also noted that, “the distribution of these units would not be possible without the generous support from many local businesses, organizations, foundations and individuals.”

“The support through the past four years has been tremendous and we greatly appreciate the wonderful reception we have received by the community,” said Dr. Jeff Cameron.

“Our goal is to save lives. AEDs are amazing devices that are simple to use and are designed to allow non-medical people to make a positive difference for a cardiac arrest victim”, said Cameron, the Initiative’s founder. “We would like to see AED’s as common as fire extinguishers are in buildings today.”

Each year in the United States, as many as 460,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Unfortunately, 95% of SCA victims die before reaching a hospital. If ordinary people act immediately with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use of an AED instead of just waiting for help, many thousands of lives can be saved every year.

For reservations to the event or more information on the Initiative contact the Red Cross at 330 -343-8633 or visit www.mlcredcross.org.