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Sandy Springs launches ‘4‑Minute Community’ AED network with Northside donation
Summary
The city announced the go‑live of a volunteer AED response program funded by Northside Hospital Foundation and Avive Technologies; staff said 103 connected AEDs were donated and volunteers will be notified by CHACOM to reach cardiac arrest victims within four minutes.
Sandy Springs officials on Aug. 5 announced the official go‑live of the “4‑Minute Community,” a volunteer program that pairs civilian responders with networked automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to improve survival from out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest.
Patrick Flaherty, section chief with Sandy Springs Fire and Rescue, said the program—developed in partnership with Northside Hospital Foundation and Avive Solutions—aims to notify trained civilian volunteers by text when 911 reports a suspected cardiac arrest and to direct them to the nearest networked AED. Flaherty said the city and partners began training volunteers and already have AEDs deployed in the field.
Northside Hospital Foundation announced a donation of 103 AEDs to the program. The devices are smaller, rechargeable and connect via cellular and Bluetooth so staff can monitor status, Flaherty said. Interventional cardiologist Jeff Marshall of the Northside Heart Institute told council that speed is critical; he said communities that get AEDs to patients within minutes see survival increase substantially from the national average.
Council members praised the program. Mayor Rusty Paul and council members asked for training for the council and said the city would solicit volunteers and community fundraising to expand the program from the initial devices toward a citywide network. The foundation and staff said the current fundraising goal is 200 AEDs; the foundation reported the per‑device cost as about $1,700, all‑in.
Next steps: Staff will continue recruiting volunteers, expanding device coverage and overseeing the networked AEDs through the fire department. Northside and Avive representatives said the program is among a small number of similar community programs nationwide and urged city support to increase survival rates.
