Time for action! We realized that there were still too many places in Eindhoven where help would not be possible within 6 minutes in the event of a cardiac arrest. From this painful insight, we started making a plan to make the city of Eindhoven safer for the heart. At that moment, intensive cooperation with the Eindhoven Heart Safe Foundation began to create local impact. It was precisely identified where extra AEDs were needed, and it was also calculated how many citizen rescuers would still need to be trained.

Thanks to the support of the Philips Foundation, we have been able to provide access to 44 AEDs. Mapping out the locations for these AEDs was truly precision work. After all, it is quite a big step for many people to hang an AED on the wall. But thanks to the many visits to neighborhoods, flyering, and the perseverance of the people from Stichting Eindhoven Hartveilig, all locations have been found, and there are now enough AEDs in the city.

It is important that AEDs are available everywhere in Eindhoven, but it is even more important that enough people can use them. And that is why we have organized a large-scale event. Three runners wore running shirts specially designed for Philips during the Eindhoven Marathon that show the distance to the nearest AED. What energy to see so many people being trained, and what goosebumps upon hearing the personal experiences of many. Each and every one a special story, ranging from sad stories about loved ones where help came too late to wonderful stories about loved ones who are still alive thanks to quick intervention.

I am very proud that we were able to achieve this milestone together. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Philips Foundation, Stichting Eindhoven Hartveilig, AED Partner and many volunteers, a solid foundation has been laid for a comprehensive network in the city of Eindhoven.

Source: LinkedIn