The need for faster lifesaving AED response – sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

The following examples illustrate real-life situations in which bystanders could not respond to a sudden cardiac arrest situation with a nearby AED simply because neither they, nor their 911 dispatch operator, knew one was nearby. In each of these situations, the consequences were deadly.*

Cancer Research Center
A visiting scientist collapsed in the lobby of a university cancer research center. Despite CPR efforts by bystander MDs, he later died of SCA. An AED located 20 feet from the victim was not known about or used.

Junior College Campus
A young athlete died of sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball game, even though there was an AED nearby. The potentially lifesaving device was not accessible, reportedly because no one knew where to find the campus’ AED.

Ice arena
A 17-year-old hockey player died of sudden cardiac arrest during a game. On-site staff reportedly was not aware of the location of the facility’s operational AED and thus failed to retrieve and use it.

Secondary school
A 15-year-old student collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest at her middle school. Apparently nobody knew about the AED located in the building, and it was not retrieved. The student died en route to the hospital.

Government building
An elderly man died from sudden cardiac arrest during an assembly on the steps of a government building. Apparently the assembly organizers did not know that an operational AED was available within the building.

University recreation center
A freshman collapsed and died during an on-campus game of flag football. Although four AEDs were reportedly available for the recreation department, witnesses said none were retrieved.

High school
A staff member apparently failed to retrieve and use an available AED to treat a student athlete suffering sudden cardiac arrest. The student died.

* Notice: These scenarios come from independent third-party sources and are presented solely to illustrate the growing number of potentially avoidable sudden cardiac arrest deaths that are reportedly occurring in locations with AEDs.