AED Grants for Churches
Certain churches are able to “make room” in the budget for an automated external defibrillator, or AED. However, many churches do not have any funding left over to purchase an AED. In that case, AED grants for churches may be a good option. Regardless of the funding source, churches must be equipped with the tools to help someone in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). This preparedness is especially critical as more than 300,000 Americans experience SCA each year.
Why do you need an AED in a church?
A large number of people congregate at houses of worship on a regular basis. Of course, people gather at churches much more often than for weekly or even daily worship services—churches serve as meeting places for neighborhood groups, community organizations, and youth assemblies. They are places where people should feel safe. For that reason, churches need to have certain equipment on hand to deal with unexpected medical emergencies—and that includes AEDs.
It’s important to remember that SCA does not only happen to people who already have an existing heart problem. In fact, SCA is often the first sign of a cardiac condition! In the event that a congregant or a visitor goes into a state of SCA, having fast access to an AED could mean the difference between a joyous outcome and a devastating one. An AED includes two external paddles that shock or defibrillate the heart. This shock, which temporarily stops the heart, aims to correct an abnormal or chaotic heartbeat and restore a normal rhythm. You can find additional information on these devices on our main AEDs page.
When a person is in cardiac distress, someone should call 9-1-1 while another person starts CPR. A person in SCA has a 3- to 5-minute window before their chances of survival begin to drop significantly. However, first responders take an average of 8 to 12 minutes to arrive. Many victims of SCA can’t wait that long. Having an AED available is often the only way to restart the heart in time to restore meaningful function.
How do you know which AED is right for your church?
Because people gather regularly at your church, you already know that it’s in the best interest of yourself and your members to have an AED on hand. Some large churches opt for more than one; others with many children attendees also have pediatric pads available in the event that a child goes into a state of SCA. When you contact us, we work with you one-on-one to understand your needs and to ensure that you have what you need (and nothing you don’t need) to handle an emergency of this magnitude.
Although untrained volunteers can operate an AED, many churches also choose to have personnel and members complete CPR training and certification so that a qualified individual is available at church functions to operate the AED or provide emergency assistance if someone experiences SCA. Many AED grants for churches are structured to include additional funding for such training.