Zoll Medical announced today that it plans to provide 32 youth organizations in the U.S. with automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based Zoll also intends to provide training to respond to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death in young athletes.
The initiative comes as part of Zoll’s “Anything Can Happen. Anyone Can Help.” education campaign. This campaign features professional football player and SCA survivor Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin in January 2023 collapsed on the field, going into cardiac arrest after making a tackle in an NFL game. He received CPR, AED and other treatments before being transported to the hospital. Hamlin later confirmed he suffered an episode of commotio cordis. He made his return to the football field less than a year later. Hamlin has become an advocate for SCA and heart conditions, also teaming up with Abbott in the past.
Zoll plans to place the 32 AEDs in community-based nonprofits as part of the initiative. That includes 25 Boys & Girls Clubs.
“This is exactly what I’ve been fighting for—getting AEDs to the places and people who need them most,” said Hamlin, a 2024 inductee of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame who credits his local Pittsburgh-area Club as “life-changing.”
Each organization receives a Zoll AED 3, complete with a backpack for portability. Zoll also plans to provide guidance on AED placement, maintenance and educational resources to train staff, volunteers and community members.
“Every young person deserves access to lifesaving resources,” said Alexis Simchak, senior program director, Simon’s Heart. “Equipping youth organizations with AEDs isn’t just about being prepared for an emergency. It’s about building confidence, leadership, and community safety from the ground up.”
