June 5, 2025- In recognition of CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1-7), ZOLL® Medical and Simon’s Heart announced that they will be providing 32 youth organizations in cities across the U.S. with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and training to respond to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death among young athletes.
The initiative is part of ZOLL’s Anything Can Happen. Anyone Can Help.™ education campaign, featuring pro football player and SCA survivor Damar Hamlin. The 32 AEDs will be placed in community-based nonprofits, including 25 Boys & Girls Clubs.
“This is exactly what I’ve been fighting for—getting AEDs to the places and people who need them most,” said Hamlin, a 2024 inductee of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame who credits his local Pittsburgh-area Club as life-changing.
Each organization receiving an AED was selected based on need and the absence of existing AED access, ensuring that youth organizations are better equipped to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency.
“Every young person deserves access to lifesaving resources,” said Alexis Simchak, Senior Program Director, Simon’s Heart. “Equipping youth organizations with AEDs isn’t just about being prepared for an emergency. It’s about building confidence, leadership, and community safety from the ground up.”
“ZOLL is delighted to make these donations, knowing that together with Simon’s Heart, we’re expanding the network of citizen first responders,” said Elijah White, President of ZOLL’s Acute Care Technology division. “When an AED is nearby, anyone can help save a life. ZOLL AEDs provide real-time coaching and feedback to help bystanders to act decisively.”
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