History

Origins 

ECHO was began from a critical insight in August 2023: cardiac health education wasn't reaching those who needed it most. Two EMTs, recognizing the low CPR certification rates among people of color in Orange County, decided to take action. They partnered with county EMS leadership and fellow healthcare professionals to address this life-threatening disparity.

Our founders identified a key issue: traditional CPR courses weren't accessible or appealing to many underserved communities. In response, ECHO developed an innovative approach - bringing certified EMTs directly to these communities. We conduct training in familiar, comfortable spaces like cultural centers and community hubs, breaking down barriers to life-saving education.

Today, ECHO continues to grow, driven by our belief that everyone deserves the knowledge to save a life, regardless of their background or language. We're committed to improving cardiac arrest outcomes by providing equitable, culturally competent CPR education, one community at a time. 

First community training: Middle Eastern Refugee Aid (MERA) Community Health Fair, 11/11/23 

Language expansion: Incorporation of Mandarin 1/6/24, Spanish 4/27/24

Partnerships: UNC School of Medicine, Middle Eastern Refugee Aid (MERA),  Duke Clinical Research Institute 

Growth and expansion 

June 2024 - 200 citizens trained, 13 instructors, 

$1500 was awarded by the Carolina Center for Public Service. 

June 24, 2024 - ECHO presented at RACE-CARS trial annual State conference

Future goals 

-Final manuscript submitted to Circulation

-Geographic expansion into Native American Reservations 

-1000 citizens trained 

-Offer courses in Marathi, Hindi, and Vietnamese