WEMSA Foundation Launches "Rescue to Recovery" Initiative to Promote Organ, Eye, & Tissue Donation
WIND LAKE, WI — The Wisconsin EMS Association Foundation, in partnership with Donate Life Wisconsin, is proud to announce the launch of Rescue to Recovery, a new initiative designed to empower EMS professionals with education and resources to support organ, eye, and tissue donation across the state.
Thanks to grant funding from Donate Life Wisconsin, the Rescue to Recovery program provides free, accessible tools to help EMS providers and departments better understand their role in preserving the opportunity for donation — even when life-saving efforts have been exhausted.
EMS professionals are often the first link in the chain of donation. Through Rescue to Recovery, we’re giving them the tools to recognize when donation may be possible and help fulfill a patient’s final wishes, offering hope to those waiting for a transplant.
CAPCE-Accredited Online Course: Keeping Hope Alive – Your Role in Preserving the Opportunity for Organ and Tissue Donation
The initiative features a new online course, Keeping Hope Alive – Your Role in Preserving the Opportunity for Organ and Tissue Donation, developed specifically for EMS professionals. The course is CAPCE-accredited for 1.0 continuing education credit, can be used towards state and national license renewal, and is available free of charge.
The self-paced training helps EMS providers understand their role in preserving the donation opportunity, recognizing brain and circulatory death, and collaborating with Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and hospitals to support donation protocols in the field.
The course is led by a multidisciplinary team of donation and transplant professionals from across Wisconsin, including:
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Jeff Ethington, Donation Recovery Center Program Manager, UW-Organ & Tissue Donation
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Courtney Bryden, Organ Donation Specialist Educator, Versiti Organ and Tissue Donation
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Nick Waite, Director of External Affairs, Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin
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Dr. Matthew McCauley, MD, Associate Medical Director, UW-Organ & Tissue Donation
Donation Promotion Toolkit for EMS Departments
Rescue to Recovery also offers a comprehensive donation promotion toolkit to support EMS agencies in promoting organ donation in their communities.
The toolkit includes:
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Downloadable social media graphics and pre-written captions.
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Printable posters and flyers designed for EMS stations, ambulances, community centers, and public outreach events.
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Messaging guides timed with national and statewide donation awareness days.
These ready-to-use resources make it easy for EMS departments to participate in Donate Life Month, Blue & Green Day, and other community campaigns.
Real Stories of Impact: Emreigh’s Journey
Rescue to Recovery brings a personal connection to the mission of donation through the story of Emreigh Zellmer. Her family’s story is shared throughout the initiative to illustrate the profound impact that organ donation can have. Through Emreigh’s journey, EMS providers are reminded that their actions can help create hope in the most difficult moments.
EMS providers and departments can access the full Rescue to Recovery resource hub and begin the free course at: wisconsinems.com/organ-donation
Anyone interested in registering as an organ, eye, or tissue donor can visit: health.wisconsin.gov/donorRegistry/public/donate.html
About the Wisconsin EMS Association Foundation
The Wisconsin EMS Association Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit community charity dedicated to advancing emergency medical services through education and public health initiatives across Wisconsin. Through collaboration with partners like Donate Life Wisconsin, the Foundation strengthens the role of EMS providers in life-saving missions every day.
About Donate Life Wisconsin
Donate Life Wisconsin is a statewide collaborative committed to inspiring people to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and to educating communities about the life-saving and healing impact of donation.
Media Contact:
Alan DeYoung, Board Member / Acting Director
Wisconsin EMS Association Foundation
alan@wisconsinems.com
www.wisconsinems.com