New program with Coro Medical and Avive Solutions will make AEDs more accessible to schools and youth sports organizations nationwide
New York, New York – September 23, 2024 – The Smart Heart Sports Coalition today announced the launch of the “AEDs for Youth” program, offering automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and youth sports organizations at substantial discounts. In collaboration with leading AED companies Coro Medical and Avive Solutions, the program makes AEDs more accessible as students, teachers, and athletes begin the new school year.
Studies show that access to an AED within minutes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can triple survival chances. Through this program, FDA-approved AEDs are available at significantly discounted prices, with Avive Solutions offering its AED and Coro Medical providing all other AED brands and models. Both companies are offering AED bundles that include essential accessories such as rescue kits, signage, wall cabinets, and device management support, tailored for different settings: ‘AED school bundles’ for indoor settings, such as classrooms and cafeterias, and ‘AED athletic bundles’ for outdoor settings, such as outdoor tracks and athletic fields. Coro Medical and Avive also have replacement and trade-in options for schools and youth sports organizations looking to upgrade their current AEDs with new models and add more AEDs to their facilities.
Additionally, as part of the bundles, schools and youth sports organizations can access discounts on AED and CPR training from third-party expert instructors from the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. This training is vital for school administrators, teachers, and coaches to effectively respond to cardiac emergencies.
“We’re proud to build on the progress of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition and launch this first-of-its-kind program to make AEDs widely available in schools and athletic facilities around the country,” said Jeff Miller, the NFL Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs, and Policy. “AEDs are indispensable, and this program reduces the cost, ensuring AEDs are accessible where students learn, play, and compete.”
“Coro Medical is deeply committed to advancing the mission of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition,” said Travis Harris, the Chief Executive Officer of Coro Medical. “It is both an honor and a responsibility to be part of this critical initiative, which is dedicated to protecting young athletes and students nationwide from the life-threatening dangers of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. By providing AEDs to schools and youth sports groups across the country, we are not only delivering life-saving tools but also championing the Smart Heart Sports Coalition’s commitment to creating safer environments for students and student athletes of all ages.”
“Avive Solutions is excited to partner with the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to bring lifesaving Avive Connect AEDs to schools and youth sports programs throughout the country,” said Sameer Jafri, the Chief Executive Officer of Avive Solutions, Inc. “Our mission to empower everyone to save a life from Sudden Cardiac Arrest aligns seamlessly with the Coalition’s dedication to enhancing lifesaving measures in schools and sports. By joining forces, we aim to elevate standards of emergency preparedness and ensure that effective and reliable AEDs are accessible nationwide and that every individual has access to cutting-edge AED technology when and where it is needed most. We are eager to collaborate on initiatives that promote awareness, training, and the deployment of AEDs, fostering a safer environment for all students, staff, athletes, and the broader community.”
According to the American Heart Association, 70% of children survive cardiac arrest in schools with properly placed AEDs – seven times the overall survival rate. However, only about half of all states require AEDs in schools, and these laws vary widely, often lacking comprehensive guidelines on placement, access, and training. Even fewer states mandate AEDs at school athletic facilities and events, despite the fact that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among young athletes and four in ten sudden cardiac arrest events among young people occur during sports or other vigorous physical activities.
Coalition members shared their support for the program and the difference it can make in schools and communities:
“On January 2, 2023, I went into cardiac arrest and was fortunate to have professionals around me who used an AED and performed CPR to save my life,”said Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety and founder of the Chasing M’s Foundation. “It was a tough experience, but I’m proud it inspired so many across our country to learn CPR and how to use an AED. Not long after, the NFL launched the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, and I was honored to be part of that effort and work with great partners to push for laws to protect kids. The AEDs for Youth program is a perfect example of what we can accomplish together to help save lives. School by school and state by state, the AEDs for Youth program will make sure that more schools have access to the same care I received – because every kid deserves a chance.”
“The American Heart Association is a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which is working in each state to improve survival from cardiac arrest,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Thanks to the work of this coalition, 13 states have already passed policies requiring cardiac emergency response plans in schools and/or school athletic facilities and events and the ‘AEDs for Youth’ program will support schools as they implement these plans that include training in CPR and AEDs, ultimately leading to more lives saved.”
“As an organization dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest and death in children and young adults, we understand the importance of having access to AEDs in safeguarding lives,” added Martha Lopez-Anderson, Executive Director of Parent Heart Watch. “By providing discounted pricing on AEDs, accessories and AED program management, we are removing barriers and enabling schools and youth sports organizations to fully prioritize cardiac emergency preparedness. This program is a proactive step toward preventing tragedies and creating safer environments for our youth.”
Nicole Ward, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Make Them Know York Name Foundation and mother of Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns defensive back shared, “My family and I live with the enduring feeling of disbelief and heartache from losing a loved one due to sudden cardiac arrest. The mission of our foundation is to help prevent families around the country from a similar, avoidable tragedy. This program certainly advances that goal by giving school communities across the country the life-saving devices, awareness, and skills to help protect students, teachers and families from preventable fatalities.”
The “AEDs for Youth” program is available through December 31, 2025, and is open to both public and private schools from kindergarten to 12th grade and youth sports organizations. Discounts on AED bundles range from 20% to 60%, depending on the brand, model, and quantity (in the case of the Avive Connect AED) selected. There is no minimum or maximum purchase requirement for schools, school districts or youth sports organizations must purchase in order to participate in the program.
To learn more about the program and to purchase an AED bundle, visit the coalition’s website at www.smartheartsports.com.
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About the Smart Heart Sports Coalition
Founded in March 2023 in response to the life-saving emergency response provided to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, the Smart Heart Sports Coalition seeks to drive the adoption in all 50 states of three evidence-based policies proven to prevent fatalities from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school students. These are:
(1) Clearly-marked AEDs at or within minutes of each high school athletic venue where games, practices, or other events are held;
(2) An athletic Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that is specific to each athletic venue, and posted, widely distributed, regularly rehearsed, and updated annually, if needed; and
(3) Education in CPR, including AED use, for coaches and other key personnel.
The coalition comprises nearly 40 organizations, including major sports leagues and organizations, as well as leading patient and health advocacy groups across the country. Learn more at www.smartheartsports.com.
About Coro Medical
Established in 2017, Coro Medical has rapidly become one of the largest U.S. distributors of both new and refurbished AEDs, manual defibrillators, as well as related training and program management services. Coro Medical, also home to AED.US, has customers in all 50 U.S. states and multiple business segments, including EMS/Fire, Schools, Athletics, Transportation, Law Enforcement and many other Public Access locations. Our mission, passion, and duty revolve around placing life-impacting AEDs where they are most needed, thereby strengthening the chain of survival.
About Avive Solutions, Inc.
Avive Solutions is a new kind of AED company, revolutionizing Sudden Cardiac Arrest response with an innovative platform that brings together a 21st-century AED device and first-of-its-kind software solutions. With the award-winning Avive Connect AED, Avive is the first new company to bring an AED to market in the U.S. in over 20 years. Focused on portability, accessibility, and connectivity, the Avive Connect AED is one of the most advanced products in the industry. Additionally, Avive’s software solutions not only make owning and managing AEDs simple, they also deliver a comprehensive cardiac arrest response solution to everyone from individuals to entire communities, with the goal of increasing bystander intervention, decreasing time-to-defibrillation, and getting valuable data to the people who need it, when they need it. Founded in 2017, Avive is on a mission to empower bystanders, first responders, and 911 telecommunicators to provide lifesaving care as quickly and easily as possible. Learn more at avive.life.
