Des Moines, November 12, 2025: Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer highlighted the innovative Iowa United First Aid Initiative during a presentation at the National Rural Economic Development Association (NREDA) Annual Conference held on November 6, 2025, in Nashville. The program represents a new model for rural emergency response, designed to improve survival rates in communities where emergency medical service (EMS) response times are significantly longer than the national average.
Improving Emergency Response in Rural Iowa
The Iowa United First Aid Initiative is being piloted in three counties—Cass, Van Buren, and Calhoun—chosen for their diverse rural settings. In these areas, trained local volunteers are equipped to provide immediate, life-saving assistance during medical emergencies until professional EMS teams arrive. The insights gathered from these pilot programs are expected to guide future statewide implementation.
Panel Presentation and Program Leaders
During the conference session, Lt. Governor Cournoyer was joined by members of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Task Force, who shared their experiences in developing and managing the initiative. The expert panel included:
- Sacha Wise, Director, Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative
- James B. Hoelscher, CEcD, Institute for Decision Making, Business & Community Services
- Shalimar Mazetis, Rural Economic Development Manager, Advance Southwest Iowa Corp
- Theresa Hildreth, Executive Director, Calhoun County Economic Development & Local Pilot Community Lead
Bridging the Rural Response Time Gap
While urban areas in the United States typically experience EMS response times averaging around eight minutes, rural areas often wait between 28 and 30 minutes for emergency services. With 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties classified as rural and many relying heavily on volunteer EMS staffing, the Iowa United First Aid Initiative empowers residents to assist during those critical first minutes of an emergency.
“Rural communities deserve the same access to rapid emergency care as any other community,” Lt. Governor Cournoyer said. “Iowa United First Aid trains and equips neighbors to help neighbors—saving lives while EMS teams are en route.”
Support, Training, and Equipment
Developed under the Empower Rural Iowa framework, the program provides pilot counties with essential funding, equipment, and training support. Each pilot community receives:
- $50,000 in state grant assistance
- 10 fully equipped “Go Bags” containing AEDs, Stop the Bleed kits, tourniquets, and first aid supplies
- Training programs and support for volunteer coordination and dispatch technology integration
Building Sustainable Community Readiness
Local leaders from the pilot counties emphasized the need for standardized dispatch systems, consistent reporting tools, and ongoing community engagement to maintain volunteer participation. They also highlighted the importance of developing shared training materials and communication networks across the state.
“The pilot counties are demonstrating what is possible when communities mobilize around care and readiness,” said Theresa Hildreth. “This model recognizes the strength of rural people and puts life-saving tools directly into their hands.”
National Recognition and Interest
The presentation received strong interest from development professionals, utility organizations, and rural policy experts nationwide. Many participants expressed interest in exploring the adoption of similar community-based emergency response systems in their own states.
About NREDA
The National Rural Economic Development Association (NREDA) is a national organization dedicated to supporting rural development professionals across the United States. It promotes innovation, collaboration, and leadership to strengthen rural communities and enhance economic opportunities.