Play With Heart Foundation donates AED to Forestdale

Play With Heart Foundation, with support from Response Ready, donated an automated external defibrillator to Forestdale in New York City to improve emergency readiness for children, families, staff and visitors. The move adds cardiac response coverage to a long-running child welfare organization where fast AED access can be critical.

Why it matters: - The AED adds a lifesaving emergency tool to a New York City child welfare organization serving children and families. - Fast access to an AED, CPR and emergency planning can improve survival during sudden cardiac arrest. - The donation is aimed at strengthening safety for children, families, staff, foster parents, volunteers and visitors at Forestdale.

What happened: - Play With Heart Foundation donated an automated external defibrillator to Forestdale. - Response Ready supported the donation and helped connect AED access with cardiac emergency response planning. - Forestdale has served children and families since 1854. - Forestdale provides parenting support, family strengthening, trauma-informed treatment, health services, foster care and youth development programming.

The details: - Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning and can affect people of different ages, including those who appear healthy. - Nearby responders are the first critical links when cardiac arrest occurs. - Recognizing the emergency, calling 911, starting CPR and using an AED as quickly as possible can substantially improve survival chances. - An AED analyzes heart rhythm and can deliver a shock when appropriate. - Response Ready says AED program management requires devices that are easy to find, inspected routinely, maintained properly and supported by trained responders. - Response Ready supports AED readiness through device placement, cardiac emergency response plans, CPR and AED training, inspection and maintenance procedures, readiness monitoring, compliance documentation and reinforcement of response procedures. - The foundation has worked since June 2022 to expand awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and access to AEDs, cardiovascular screenings and CPR and AED education. - Play With Heart Foundation has helped provide free electrocardiogram screenings to more than 1,000 young athletes and teenagers. - Organizations interested in AED program management, CPR and AED training coordination or emergency response readiness can contact Response Ready for more information.

Between the lines: - The donation reflects a broader push to move AEDs beyond purchase and placement into day-to-day readiness. - For nonprofits serving families, visible AED access can support both workplace safety and visitor protection. - The partnership combines nonprofit giving with operational support, which can matter as much as the device itself when minutes count.

What's next: - Forestdale will keep using the AED as part of its on-site emergency preparedness. - Play With Heart Foundation said it will continue partnering with schools, sports organizations, nonprofits and community groups that may lack AEDs, screenings and emergency response training. - Response Ready will continue helping organizations build and maintain AED and emergency response programs through training, planning, compliance support and readiness management. - The foundation plans to keep expanding access to heart-health resources, CPR education and preparedness initiatives.