The American Heart Association’s push to expand CPR education and improve access to lifesaving AEDs across Massachusetts was in the spotlight recently on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, GBH’s weekly radio show and podcast focused on issues shaping life in Massachusetts.
American Heart Association volunteer and Mass General Brigham cardiologist Dr. Kemar Brown joined a panel conversation, led by host Callie Crossley, to talk about sudden cardiac arrest, emergency preparedness, and why quick action matters. Brown stressed that immediate CPR and rapid access to an AED can dramatically improve survival, pointing out that nationwide only about one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest — with even lower survival rates in under-resourced communities.
Also on the panel was Dr. Lisa Owens, an internal medicine physician and American Heart Association volunteer. Owens shared the deeply personal story of her son Preston Settles, who collapsed during a high school basketball game in 2022 after telling friends his heart was racing. Although an AED was eventually brought to his side, precious time had passed, and Preston tragically died, a painful reminder of how critical awareness, training, and proximity to equipment can be.
State Rep. Russell Holmes discussed legislation aimed at closing those gaps by placing AEDs closer to athletic fields, expanding CPR training, and strengthening emergency response plans in schools and community spaces, with the goal of making lifesaving tools as routine as a first-aid kit.
Together, the discussion reinforced what the American Heart Association has long championed: preparedness saves lives, and access to CPR education and AEDs can mean the difference between tragedy and survival.