The Life-Saving Impact of Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s AED+ Program
Did you know that sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere — from a church service to a Friday night little league game? When a cardiac emergency strikes, every second matters, and having the right tools nearby can make a critical difference. June 1 to 7 marks National CPR and AED Awareness Week, a crucial time to spotlight how local preparation saves lives.
In Mercer County, the Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s AED+ Program is transforming everyday community spaces into safe havens. Through a vital, no-cost partnership between the Buhl Regional Health Foundation, Allegheny Health Network Grove City, Sharon Regional Medical Center, UPMC Horizon & Jameson Health Foundations, and Staying Alive, local organizations have the equipment, training, and knowledge needed to feel empowered to step in before first responders arrive.
The staff and volunteers at The Buhl Community Recreation Center received CPR and AED training through the AED+ Program
An Automated External Defibrillator, most commonly known as an AED is a device designed to deliver an electric shock to people experiencing cardiac arrest, restoring the heart rhythm to normal. AEDs can be used by people who are not healthcare professionals; a tool with the potential to save lives before first responders arrive on the scene of an emergency.
The Buhl Regional Health Foundation began this initiative in August 2022. By mid-2026, the AED+ program will have placed 235 AEDs throughout Mercer County.
“We have provided AEDs to 118 organizations, which represent a range of places that reflect the fabric of our community: schools, churches, non-profit service organizations, government agencies, and small businesses,” said Kateri Linn, Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s Director of Programming. “In addition to providing defibrillator devices to Mercer County community partners, we are providing life-saving cardiac resuscitation and first aid education. Rounding out this program is our sustainable commitment to our neighbors with annual check-ins to provide new batteries and pads before they expire, to keep the AEDs in working order for many years to come.”
From our community, hear about what access to the AED+ Program means to them. These quotes have been excerpted and modified for this article:
“The Buhl Regional Health Foundation provides life-saving materials for our non-profit which does not have a budget for purchasing and training our staff on AED+ use and CPR, which is covered, free of charge by this program. We’ve been able to breathe easier knowing if we would have a cardiac emergency, we [are] prepared. It allows us to focus on [our mission] of helping students.” -Crossroads Group Homes and Services
“We have several members at the church with cardiac issues. Having an AED means we can help someone immediately. Time is important with a heart attack and the quicker you get the AED on and operating, the likelihood of a successful resuscitation goes way up.” -Local Church
AED Zion UCC poses proudly with their AED, provided by the AED+ Program
“We used our new AED this morning on a cardiac arrest and succeeded in restoring a heartbeat. I received word from the ambulance staff that the patient was breathing on his own by the time he reached the hospital and was responding to auditory stimuli. We are so thankful for these new AED units. They are more user friendly than our old units and I think they’re also more effective.” -Grove City Police Department
Every AED installed in Mercer County represents a heartbeat restored, a family kept whole, and a community better prepared. Through the Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s efforts with its valued partners, local spaces are no longer just places to gather — they are safe havens. As National CPR and AED Awareness Week reminds us of the critical importance of early intervention, there has never been a better time to ensure your organization is equipped to save a life.
For more information about the Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s AED+ program and to apply for an AED device and CPR training, please visit https://buhlregionalhealthfoundation.org/programs/aed
To learn more about National CPR and AED Awareness week, see this link: https://cpr.heart.org/en/training-programs/cpr-and-aed-awareness/cpr-and-aed-awareness-week