The McKinney Fire Department, in partnership with the McKinney Police Department and local citizens, is prioritizing swift automated external defibrillator (AED) response across the community. This collaborative effort has contributed to an increase in McKinney’s cardiac survival rate from 10 percent to 47 percent.
The city is building a network of community AED responders to establish McKinney as a 4-Minute City. The goal is to place more than 400 AEDs in the hands of citizens to save lives during cardiac emergencies. A 4-Minute City ensures that an AED is never more than four minutes away from any resident.
Every minute an AED is delayed, survivability decreases by 10 percent. Early intervention can double a person’s chance of survival.
Residents interested in becoming a Neighborhood Hero must sign up through the city’s official channels. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and CPR trained. For those who are not currently trained, the city offers free Ready to React hands-only CPR training classes.
Once trained and approved, participants will receive an AED. When a cardiac emergency occurs within one mile of their location, participants will be alerted via their cell phone and the AED device. The city emphasizes that participation could be the reason a neighbor or friend survives a cardiac emergency. Every second counts when someone’s heart stops.
The initiative relies on the partnership between emergency services and citizens to ensure rapid response times. By distributing AEDs to trained community members, the city aims to reduce the time between cardiac arrest and defibrillation. Residents are encouraged to complete the necessary training and registration to join the network.
