Causes

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

10-01-2025

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: How AEDs and Registries Save Lives

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month—a reminder that SCA is one of the most sudden and deadly emergencies. When the heart stops beating, survival depends on immediate CPR and quick use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

What is the Emergency AED Registry

One of the most important tools communities can use to improve survival is having AEDs not just in place, but known, tracked, maintained—and easily discoverable. That’s where the Emergency AED Registry comes in.

• What is it?
  PulsePoint runs a registry called PulsePoint AED (sometimes the “Emergency AED Registry”) that collects locations of public AEDs. The registry is free, administered by the nonprofit PulsePoint, and meant to be used by public safety agencies, telecommunicators (911 dispatchers), CPR-trained community members, and bystanders.
• Registrations & monitoring:
  Anyone can help build the registry—owners of AEDs, businesses, community members, etc., using the PulsePoint AED app or via a simple website (“aed.new“) to submit new AEDs or updates.
• Integration with dispatch and 911 centers:
  Because the registry is connected with emergency medical dispatch systems and telecommunicator tools, when someone calls 911, the dispatcher may have access to data on which AEDs are nearby. They can then tell the caller or someone on scene where an AED is located, rather than the caller having to guess if one is around.

Why this Registry Matters

• Time saves lives: Every minute without defibrillation reduces survival chances.
• Accuracy counts: AED Registry tracks AED maintenance and keep information current.
• Community impact: Businesses, schools, and public buildings can register AEDs and support faster response.

What You Can Do

• Register AEDs you own or manage at aed.new.
• Train staff and community members in CPR and AED use.
• Download the PulsePoint app to find nearby AEDs and help keep the registry updated.