Expect the Unexpected: Recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month this September

Endsley Eggert
Expect the Unexpected: Recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month this September

Quick Summary: Emergency Preparedness Month & Sudden Cardiac Arrest

  • September is Emergency Preparedness Month, a reminder to plan for natural disasters, medical crises, and unexpected emergencies.
  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, anywhere, and is fatal without immediate action.
  • Learn the difference between SCA and heart attacks—one is electrical, the other is a “plumbing” issue.
  • Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are simple, portable, and the only effective treatment for SCA.
  • CPR and AED training builds speed, confidence, and saves lives.
  • Community preparedness matters—AEDs should be visible and accessible in schools, gyms, offices, and public spaces.
  • Take action this month:
    • Locate your nearest AED
    • Learn CPR and AED skills
    • Advocate for more AEDs in your workplace, school, or community
  • AED.US can help ensure your community has access to life-saving equipment and training.

 Expect the Unexpected: Recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month this September

Every September, Emergency Preparedness Month reminds us not only to expect the unexpected, but to make plans for how to best address various types of emergencies. From natural disasters to medical crises, readiness means different things for different situations. Among these emergencies is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a heart condition that can strike anyone, any time, anywhere. And for these situations, readiness is the difference between life and death. Preparation isn’t just about stocking up on supplies; it’s about learning the skills and securing access to the tools that you need. To prepare for sudden cardiac arrest, you only need to know two things: how to do CPR, and where to find the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED).

Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The heart has two systems that allow it to supply fresh, nutrient-rich blood to our bodies: a “plumbing” system, which carries blood to, through, and out of the heart, and an “electrical” system, which turns signals from our brains into heartbeats, allowing it to beat all day every day without having to think about it1,2. Sudden cardiac arrest is a disorder of the electrical system, and is a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to abruptly stop beating1. This is different than a heart attack, which occurs when an artery supplying the heart gets blocked, causing damage to the cardiac muscle2.

Sudden cardiac arrest abruptly cuts off blood flow to the brain, lungs, and other vital organs, and is rapidly fatal without immediate intervention3-5. In fact, just 4-5 minutes after sudden cardiac arrest with no intervention, survival rates are as low as 25%. By 10 minutes, that statistic approaches zero percent3. In many cases, bystanders (not medical professionals) are the first and only meaningful chance at survival for victims5.

The Life-Saving Role of AEDs

AEDs are portable, user-friendly devices designed to deliver an electric shock that can make the heart start beating again. In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, restoration of normal heart rhythm using an AED is the only definitive treatment3. Despite their life-saving potential, AEDs remain underused, often because people are unsure when to use them, how to use them, or who should use them6. The answers to these questions are simple: AEDs should be used as soon as possible on everybody with sudden cardiac arrest; the devices themselves provide written and verbal prompts to walk users through the entire rescue process; and they are made for absolutely anybody to use, even if they have never received any training. AEDs can, and should, be found in airports, schools, gyms, offices, and community centers, so you can keep your community safe wherever you live, work, and play.

Expect the Unexpected: Recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month this September

Training Builds Confidence and Speed

While AEDs are simple to operate, responding during a cardiac arrest is intimidating. CPR and AED training gives bystanders the confidence to act without hesitation, which is critical given the time-sensitive nature of sudden cardiac arrest4-6. Training teaches you to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, perform effective and safe chest compressions, and apply an AED quickly and correctly to deliver a shock. A few hours of practice can be the difference between panic and purposeful action, which is instrumental in saving lives.

Expect the Unexpected: Recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month this September

Preparedness Is a Community Effort

Being ready to respond is more than just an individual responsibility, it’s a community one. Workplaces, schools, sports facilities, and other public spaces should have AEDs in visible, accessible locations, and community members need to know how to get to them at all times. Additionally, organizing CPR and AED training opportunities will empower more people to feel confident and capable of responding when an emergency occurs. A coordinated response plan is the best type, where roles are clear and everyone knows who will call 911, who will start CPR, and who will retrieve the AED7. Practice makes perfect, and having a dialed-in system will save precious time when it matters most.

Your Call to Action

This Emergency Preparedness Month, go beyond your own personal readiness. Take these steps to strengthen the safety nets in the places where you spend your days:

●      Locate the nearest AED in your workplace, school, gym, or community center. I

●      Learn CPR and AED skills through organizations such as the American Heart Association. Go a step beyond and organize a class for your office, gym, or club.

●      Advocate for AEDs in areas where they are missing. Ask your employer, school board, or local leaders to install and maintain these lifesaving devices.

Preparation isn’t just about having a plan or supplies; it’s about creating a community where lifesaving tools are accessible and people are empowered to use them. Your voice can help ensure that AEDs are available in the spaces you care about, and that the people in your community are ready to step up when emergency strikes. If you need assistance ensuring these devices are readily available, AED.US is here to help.

This September, take your commitment to community safety a step further. Learn the skills, locate the equipment, and speak up for AEDs in the places where you work, learn, and play. Because when sudden cardiac arrest strikes, preparedness is everything.

Sources

  1. Sauer WH, Koplan BA, Zei PC. Principles of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. In: Longo D, Fauci A, Kasper D, Hauser S, Jameson J, Loscalzo J, Holland S, Langford C. eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 22nd Edition. McGraw Hill; 2026. Accessed September 21, 2025. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=3541&sectionid=293335709
  2. Giugliano RP, Antman EM, Loscalzo J. Ischemic Heart Disease. In: Longo D, Fauci A, Kasper D, Hauser S, Jameson J, Loscalzo J, Holland S, Langford C. eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 22nd Edition. McGraw Hill; 2026. Accessed September 21, 2025. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=3541&sectionid=296165548
  3. Al-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: Executive summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Heart Rhythm. 2018;15(10):e190-e252. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2017.10.035
  4. Sawyer KN, Camp-Rogers TR, Kotini-Shah P, et al. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivorship: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020;141(12):e654-e685. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000747
  5. Gessman LJ, Schacknow PN, Brindis RG. Sudden Cardiac Death at Home: Potential Lives Saved With Fully Automated External Defibrillators. Ann Emerg Med. 2024;83(1):35-41. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.08.006
  6. Brooks SC, Clegg GR, Bray J, et al. Optimizing Outcomes After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Innovative Approaches to Public-Access Defibrillation: A Scientific Statement From the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Circulation. 2022;145(13):e776-e801. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001013
  7. Meaney PA, Bobrow BJ, Mancini ME, et al. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality: [corrected] improving cardiac resuscitation outcomes both inside and outside the hospital: a consensus statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013;128(4):417-435. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e31829d8654