HEARTSafe Community

The City of Detroit is now a HEARTSafe Community. Through the sustained efforts of The Detroit Fire Department and our community partners we are the largest municipality to achieve this designation in the United States. Here’s a quick breakdown of what this means for residents and visitors, as well as how you can help.

What is a HEARTSafe Community?

The HEARTSafe Community initiative is a national preparedness program created by the Citizen CPR Foundation dedicated to improving outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest. This designation is awarded to cities that demonstrate extreme preparedness in the areas of cardiac emergencies, training, preparation and response protocols.

The program aims to reduce the number of cardiac deaths through collaboration with community partners and increased access to critical medical interventions. In order for Detroit to achieve this milestone, the Detroit Fire Department had to take several steps to fulfill 13 criteria. Some of the requirements include:

  • Widespread CPR training for residents and city employees
  • Providing public access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
  • Aggressive resuscitation protocols for first responders and area hospitals
  • The implementation of strategies to improve public awareness and intervention

Becoming a HEARTSafe community is our way of showing our continued commitment to the cardiac health of Detroit citizens and visitors. Our efforts to receive this designation also provides greater access to life-saving skills and technology for all who enter our city.

Who is the Citizen CPR Foundation?

The Citizen CPR Foundation (CCPRF) is an organization founded in 1987 with the goal of saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest through the stimulation of effective community, professional and citizen action. CCPRF focuses on education for everyday citizens and collaboration with entities such as EMS Dispatch, Paramedics and EMTs, emergency department personnel and hospitals.

The organization’s efforts are based in the following core values:

  • CPR and AED use saves lives.
  • Collaboration among professionals, communities and organizations is key to surviving cardiac arrest.
  • Action based on best practices in science, education and implementation improves outcomes.

How does living in a HEARTSafe Community impact you?

Becoming a Community of Heroes

Roughly 356,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of the hospital every year, according to the American Heart Association. Of those incidents about 90% of them are fatal if action is not taken immediately. However, bystander CPR can almost double a person’s chance for survival. The key is providing good quality chest compressions and starting them immediately. Studies have also shown that the early use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can vastly improve outcomes for people experiencing a cardiac emergency.

Through our AED and Hands-Only CPR training, we are able to empower citizens to step into the role of being first responders themselves. When dealing with a cardiac emergency, every minute counts and your actions on the scene could make all the difference. Calling for help, performing CPR and using an AED (when available) helps ensure the chain of survival for the people in your community. 

Join us in our effort to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest. Through collaboration, education and quick action, we can reduce the impact of heart disease for our family, friends and neighbors. Becoming a hero in your community can be as simple as reaching out to the Detroit Fire Department to receive your training.

Sign up for your free hands-only CPR class HERE.

Bridging the Gap to Resources

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but with immediate medical intervention, patient outcomes can improve. The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) is making continuous strides to lower the mortality rate through:

  • Faster access to life-saving skills and tools like hands-only CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
  • Raising awareness and public education on cardiac health
  • Reduced response times from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to cardiac emergencies

With our increased efforts to make Detroit a safer city, we are able to provide increased access to resources such as training and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The Detroit Fire Department has trained hundreds of city employees, across several departments, in hands-only CPR. This increases the odds of someone nearby being able to assist during a cardiac emergency until first responders arrive.

DFD conducts regular community outreach programs throughout the year to raise awareness about cardiac health and emergencies, as well as provide training to residents and city employees. The department has also taken steps to increase awareness of and access to hundreds of AEDs throughout Detroit. As of now, there are more than 500 AEDs registered on the PulsePoint AED app. See the information below to learn more about the PulsePoint AED app.

How to Find the Nearest AED

PulsePoint AED is a mobile application created to help improve outcomes for people experiencing a sudden cardiac emergency. It allows users to see the locations of Automated External Defibrillators in a given area. No account creation or personal information is required to use this app and it is free to download.

Some key features of the app include:

  • AED Locations: The app shows all known locations for AEDs, which allows for quick access in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.
  • Registration Database: Users can also report AED locations themselves. If you spot an AED and you do not find it on the app, you can input the information yourself and a member of our team will go out and verify that location.
  • Hands-only CPR Tutorial: In the event of a cardiac emergency, the app has quick reminders to help you perform hands-only CPR until first responders arrive.

Download the PulsePoint AED app for Android HERE.

Download the PulsePoint AED app for Apple HERE.

How You Can Help

  1. Learn Hands-only CPR. Take advantage of free training offered by the Detroit Fire Department.
  2. Advocate for AEDs in public spaces you frequently visit be it your workplace, place of worship, your favorite restaurant, etc.
  3. Learn the Signs of Cardiac Arrest or a Heart Attack
  4. Tell Others: Invite your friends, family and neighbors to get trained with you. Learning these life-saving skills could mean saving the life of someone close to you.

Educational Resources

Learning Hands-Only CPR

CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training

Find AEDs in Detroit

Schedule a Class for a Community Organization, School or Business or

contact the Detroit Fire Department: [email protected]

Community Partners

Advantage Health

American Heart Association

American Red Cross

Ascension St. John’s Hospital

City of Detroit Mayor and Staff

City of Detroit Health Department

City of Detroit Department of Elections

City of Detroit District Managers

City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department

City of Detroit Police Department

Corewell Health

Detroit Area Agency on Aging

Detroit Athletic Club

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Eastern Market

Ford Field (Detroit Lions)

General Motors

Grainger

Henry Ford Health System

Homeroom Detroit

HUDA Clinic

McKinney Foundation

MiSide

Riverhouse Coop

Rocket Companies

Stryker

Team Wellness

Tenet/Detroit Medical Center (DMC)

The Detroit East Medical Control Authority (DEMCA)

United Auto Workers

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

VA

Wayne County Sherriff

Wayne State Mobile Health

Wayne State University

WDIV- TV (Local 4)

Zoll