Heart Division

     Mission Statement

    The Heart Division of the Blue Envelope Health Fund provides financial assistance to people with heart disease and educates the public through prevention programs, such as CPR training.

    The Division also funds equipment purchases for the Cardiopulmonary Department of Wyoming Medical Center and Automated External Defibrillators for the community.

Division Chair: William Muller

Contact for assistance:

Mark Bower: (307) 237-2741

      History:

    The first project of the Heart Division was funding for the Rheumatic Fever/Strep Throat Culture Program instituted in 1954. The project began as a mass culture program in the Casper elementary schools. Students had their throats swabbed if they exhibited any signs of strep infection. Because the program was so successful in eradicating Rheumatic Fever, the program was eventually moved to Wyoming Medical Center. The Heart Division continues to work with the Wyoming Medical Center in offering free throat cultures with a physician's order.

    In 1973 with Dr. Harlen Myers as chairman, Blue Envelope began the Blue Envelope Voluntary Blood Donor campaign. The goal of the campaign was to have only volunteer blood donors for this community and for Casper to have its own Blood Bank to serve the needs of the community.

    The CPR Program has been supported by Blue Envelope since its beginning in 1978. Through this program Natrona County residents can receive free CPR training regardless of ability to pay. Blue Envelope has partnered with Wyoming Medical Center and the Casper Fire Department to teach these classes at Wyoming Medical Center.

    In 1980 Blue Envelope purchased and introduced "Choking Charlie" to Casper. Charlie was a life sized mannequin used for demonstrating the Heimlich Maneuver for saving lives when a person is choking. That year Blue Envelope sponsored training sessions free to the public.

    The Heart Division has purchased many medical equipment items for the WMC since 1958. We are proud to have been the first organization to place portable Automated External Defibrillators in public locations for emergency treatment of an individual experiencing cardiac arrest. Blue Envelope purchased the first defibrillator for the hospital in 1963, at that time called a cardioverter, the only such device in Wyoming. Blue Envelope played a major role in the development of the Life Flight helicopter at Wyoming Medical Center.

Click here for a full list of equipment purchased by Blue Envelope Health Fund.