GoHeartGo
Let's improve cardiac arrest survival in SE Louisiana
Our Mission
GoHeartGo's purpose is to teach proper chest compressions and automatic external defibrillator (AED) usage to SE Louisiana schoolkids and Mardi Gras krewes -- to move the needle on saving people from cardiac arrest.
About GoHeartGo and Dr. Smith
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
Dr. Mike Smith is a board certified emergency physician and professor of emergency medicine who has taught students and residents for over 20 years. He also has two decades of experience in simulation education and has educated a variety of health care professionals and community members. He is dedicated to improving cardiac arrest survival by teaching proper chest compressions and AED usage.
The Issue
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
Once a person sustains cardiac arrest, the survivability goes down approximately 10% per minute. The brain suffers irreversible damage in 4-6 minutes. Thus, if a person sustains cardiac arrest, EMS is called, and no bystander CPR is done, the chances of survival once they get to the ER can be very low. The things that increase survival are very basic skills that can be taught to children.
The Solution
Mike Smith, MD, MBA
The Solution
We aim to target school children and have taught school kids in multiple venues (their health classes, in the Superdome at STEMfest). Another target audience is participants in Mardi Gras parades, particularly the float lieutenants and sergeants. Strategic AED placement amongst floats can also impact survival.
This is a passion project of Dr. Smith and is done on a volunteer basis.
We thank Laerdal for generous equipment donations.
