Providence Queen of the Valley Foundation donates life-saving AED to support residents of Lake Berryessa

NAPA, Calif. (June 15, 2025)-– If you’re in sudden cardiac arrest, access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) can significantly increase your chance of survival. Thanks to a donation from Providence Queen of the Valley Foundation residents in remote Lake Berryessa now have access to a life-saving AED unit at Turtle Rock Bar and Café, located on Route 128.  

Queen of the Valley Foundation made the donation following an incident highlighting this critical need. During a weekly night out with her husband, Janice Casey started to feel faint and exhibit signs of a cardiac event or a stroke. Queen of the Valley’s Manager of Risk Management, Michele White, a registered nurse who was also having dinner, immediately started to assess Janice. She was concerned her symptoms may be cardiac related and realized she may decline quickly.    

Michele knew that in a remote area like Lake Berryessa, it could take 45 minutes for 
an ambulance to arrive. She also knew that sudden cardiac arrest survival rates decline 10% for every minute the patient is down, and she wouldn’t be able to administer CPR for that length of time without support. 

“It made me realize how vulnerable residents in this area are,” said White. “It’s an aging community, and if someone has sudden cardiac arrest as the result of an arrhythmia or irregular heart rate, time is of the essence. If you don’t correct that arrhythmia, they are going to die.” 

Fortunately, Janice’s symptoms turned out not to be heart related; however, this and other incidents highlighted the need to have an AED close by. According to Pete Leung, owner of Turtle Rock, “A few years back, a fisherman stopped in to get something to eat and drink and exhibited the same kind of symptoms. He was having a heart attack and ended up needing surgery.”  Heart attacks can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. 

As Leung explains, while there is a Cal Fire station a few miles away, response to a 911 call can take 40 minutes or longer, depending on the time of day. He shared having an AED on-site, “will probably save someone’s life.” Studies show that only 10% of those who suffer sudden cardiac arrest survive, but the chances of survival increase to 40% with access to an AED. 

“This is an example of philanthropy at work,” said Rachael Poer, President and CEO of the Queen of the Valley Foundation. “If it were not for the generosity of our community, we would not be able to maintain this life-saving equipment and education in partnership with the Via Heart Project.”- 

“It’s a testament to the Foundation’s impact,” White added. “Their support extends beyond the hospital, enriching the entire community through initiatives like the Queen's Heart Safe program.” 

For years, Via Heart Project and Queen of the Valley’s community health department have partnered to provide and maintain AED units and offer CPR/AED training as part of the Queen’s Heart Safe program. According to Pam Dodson, director of program development for the Via Heart Project, the AED at Turtle Rock is one of 200 units that the program has placed in Napa County since it began in 2012. 

“Our goal is to increase survival from sudden cardiac arrest. We conduct community outreach, provide hands-only CPR training, demonstrate how to use an AED and work with the community, individuals, and businesses to place and maintain AEDs,” Dodson explains. 

Anyone can donate an AED through the Queen’s Heart Safe program. For more information, contact Rachael Poer at Rachael.Poer@providence.org. 

About Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center 

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is a 208-bed, acute care facility founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The Queen is the largest healthcare facility and one of the largest employers in Napa County. Services provided include a regional heart center; orthopedic center and cancer center approved with commendations by the American College of Surgeons; the Peggy Herman Neuroscience Center, a neurosurgery program affiliated with UCSF; a Women’s Center; maternity and infant care; inpatient and outpatient minimally invasive surgery; and a full-service emergency department and trauma center, amongst many other specialty services. Learn more: www.providence.org/queen. 

About Via Heart Project 
Via Heart Project, based in San Francisco, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the awareness, education, treatment, and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. We advance our mission worldwide via community outreach, CPR training, and automated external defibrillator (AED) placement and maintenance. Learn more: viaheartproject.org. 
 

###