BE THE ADVOCATE WHO WILL
BRING AN AED TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Can’t Afford to Donate an AED?
We have some ideas. There are still many ways to bring life-saving AEDs to the community you care about.
Find a place that needs an AED
Look for places that have a high traffic of people. This could be a school, workplace church or community center like a church or gym. Be creative, there are a lot of places that need an AED.
Examples of places that generally need machines
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Schools have a need for AEDs on campus. Sudden Cardia Arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses. It is also the leading cause of death in our athletes. Statistics show that 2/50 United States schools have SCA event on campus every year.
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Community centers, including churches, libraries, and other gathering places, are perfect places to be equipped with AEDs because they serve as central locations for many people to congregate.
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Sports venues like stadiums, arenas, and gyms are places where people engage in physical activity, increasing the likelihood of cardiac arrest and the need for an AED.
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Hotels and resorts often have a need for AEDs because they accommodate large numbers of travelers, and response times for emergency medical services may be slower in remote areas.
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Really any high traffic location could have the need for an AED. There is no harm in having one. Think workplaces, shopping malls, government buildings, transportation centers, & more.
Confirm this place doesn’t already have an AED machine
How do I know if this place already has an AED?
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If you're in a public place, ask a staff member if they have an AED and where it's located.
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Some mobile apps, such as PulsePoint, can help you locate AEDs in your area.
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Fire departments and EMS providers often keep records of AED locations in their service areas and may be able to provide you with information.
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Coaches interact with student-athletes more than most others in there lives in environments that could lead to higher risk of SCA. Our coaches need to know where an AED is located and should be able to get to one within 2 minutes of any incident happening with their student-athletes or co-workers.
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Athletic Directors are driving forces on every campus. Their influence carries weight in the community and can be a huge help in getting AEDs on campuses where needed.
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From a risk standpoint, not having an easily accessible AED could lead to being unprepared for life-threatening situations. Sharing the facts with a risk manager may help to recognize the need for AEDs in most public locations.
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The leaders in our communities, school district officials should value the health and safety of all students, teachers, and faculty. Adding the correct number of AEDs on campuses is an easy way for schools to be prepared in case of a SCA event.
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EMS crews should have an AED readily available at all times. They know the risk of SCA, how to respond, and the extreme benefits of having an AED available. They can be huge advocates for getting resources where they are needed.
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As first responders, fire departments will know the need for AEDs in public spaces. Using your local fire department as an advocate could help your case for finding where AEDs are needed in your community.
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Business owners will want to protect their employees, customers, and community. By sharing the risk factors of SCA with them and how helpful an AED can be in the first minutes of an incident, they will want to help get AEDs for their companies to be protected.
Identify the right people to talk to
Find the right people who have the ability to help you get a machine in the the location you are trying to advocate for. These people are usually decision makers or people who can help you influence decision makers to get a life saving machine.
Have some talking points ready
It’s important for you to have the knowledge on why having AEDs are so important. You will need to convince this person that having an AED in their location can save lives. Here are some tools to help you with this effort!
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can occur at any time and to anyone, regardless of age or location. SCA is the leading cause of death in the United States. 1,000 Americans suffer SCA every single day. When a person experiences SCA, every minute is critical. During SCA, the person’s heart stops beating and they can stop breathing. Immediate CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) can help keep the person’s brain and heart alive until professional medical help arrives. Using an AED alongside CPR can provide the best possible chance of survival.
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Studies have shown that the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is around 10 percent. However, the use of an AED can significantly improve those odds. When an AED is used promptly, it can increase the chances of survival.
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Accessibility and ease of use. AEDs are designed to be user-friendly and can be used by individuals with little to no medical training. These devices are lightweight, portable, and straightforward to operate. They can automatically analyze the heart’s rhythm and provide voice prompts, guiding users through the entire process. You cannot hurt someone by using an AED. The machine will only deliver a shock if the victim needs one.
Downloadable Sales Kits
Here are some printable tools that will help you in the sales journey! Let these tools help you show the importance of AEDs and why this location should have one.
How they can they get a machine?
We make it easy for anyone to purchase or donate a machine. All you have to do is send them to our website.
What if they can’t afford it?
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You can organize a fundraising event on campus, such as a bake sale, car wash, or charity walk/run. You can also consider crowdfunding through online platforms such as GoFundMe or Kickstarter.
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Reach out to local businesses and organizations and ask for their support. You can also reach out to alumni and other supporters of the college to ask for donations.
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Research and apply for grants that support AEDs in public places or on college campuses.
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Consider hosting an event on campus to raise awareness about the importance of AEDs and sudden cardiac arrest. You can invite speakers, hold a CPR training session, or screen a documentary film.
Often times people will not want to spend the money to purchase an AED. Here are some ideas to help support the cost of this live saving endeavor!
We can help!
Do you need our help? We are happy to have one of our experts help you achieve your goals. Complete as much of this checklist as you can, then we can have one of our specialists help you seal the deal!
Request help
We generally respond within 2-4 hours on weekdays. Let our expert team help you get an AED in the community you care for.
Sounds Too Hard?
Donate Toward Our AED Placement Program
All donations to Who We Play For goes directly to life-saving heart screenings, AED placements, research, and more to help eliminate sudden cardiac death in the young. For every $20 donated, we are able to provide 1 heart screening to a student. For every $6,000 donated, we are able to save a life.
Other Ways to Get Involved
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Social Advocacy
The simplest way for you to support our mission is by sharing about us on your social media.
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Heart Screenings
An ECG is one of the only ways to catch a life-threatening heart defect before SCA occurs. Have you been screened?
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CPR Programs
Knowing CPR can help save a life. Check out the classes, programs, and other ways to learn more about CPR.
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Physicians
The physicians involved in WWPF help us to read ECGs from our participants and host ECGs in their offices.
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Xpress ECG Program
The first 12-lead ECG machine that can get shipped straight to your door in the United States. Test yourself and your family from your home.
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Classes & Webinars
Our team of experts give lectures across the country and online advocating for the research and technology needed to fight SCA.
