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SMSC donates its 1,000th AED

Prior Lake Police Department receives 14 AEDs to cap off program

Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community donated 14 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) – including its 1,000th AED – to the City of Prior Lake Police Department during a ceremony yesterday. Tribal officials joined representatives from the police department and the City of Prior Lake for the celebration held at Mdewakanton Public Safety, the SMSC’s full-time fire and ambulance department.

This donation is a part of Mdewakanton LIFE, an SMSC program that began in 2004. The SMSC has donated AEDs to tribes, first response agencies, and governmental agencies in an effort to help save lives. Since the program’s inception, at least 28 people have been saved across the country by law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel using SMSC-donated AEDs, and many more by the SMSC’s first responders using AEDs located around the reservation and tribal enterprises.

“After helping first launch this program 13 years ago, I’m honored to be here to celebrate this milestone and all of the lives saved by the AEDs we’ve donated,” said SMSC Vice-Chairman Keith B. Anderson. “Public safety and first response capabilities are very important to the SMSC, and helping neighbors like Prior Lake by donating AEDs demonstrates our commitment.”

This is the second AED donation that the Prior Lake Police Department has received from the SMSC. Each AED is valued at approximately $1,985.

“Thank you to the SMSC for this generous contribution to our department,” said Prior Lake Police Chief Mark Elliott. “Having AEDs at the ready in our police cruisers positions us to save lives.  Responding to medical calls is one of the primary functions of our officers, and having the right equipment, like these new AEDs gives our patients a better chance for a successful outcome. On behalf of our residents, businesses and visitors I would like to thank the SMSC for being a benevolent and caring public safety partner.”

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.