Prevent Heartbreak: How Lifesaving Preparedness Keeps Families Whole This Valentine’s Day

Author: Marcy Burnham, RN

February is the month of hearts.

We celebrate love, connection, and the people who make our lives meaningful. Valentine’s Day reminds us to cherish those closest to us, while American Heart Month calls attention to something just as important—protecting the hearts that keep those relationships alive.

This February, let’s expand the meaning of love beyond flowers and chocolates. Let’s talk about how preparedness saves lives—and how placing a ready-to-rescue AED, learning CPR, and creating a lifesaving solution in homes, businesses, schools, and churches can truly help prevent heartbreak. Because the greatest gift is simple:
Everyone returning safely home at the end of the day.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone—any age, any fitness level, anywhere. It strikes without warning and requires immediate action.

Survival decreases by 7–10% for every minute without defibrillation.
Most cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals.
Early CPR and use of an AED can double or even triple survival rates.

When a cardiac emergency happens, waiting for help isn’t enough. Help must already be there. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is one of the most powerful tools in saving a life. AEDs are:

Easy to use
Voice-guided
Safe for bystanders
Designed for both adults and children

Placing an AED in your home, workplace, school, or place of worship means you are prepared to act in the moments that matter most. You don’t need a medical background to save a life—you just need training.

CPR keeps oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and heart until an AED or emergency responders arrive. When communities prioritize CPR education:

Fear is replaced with confidence.
Panic is replaced with purpose.
Bystanders become lifesavers.

CPR training empowers people to act instead of freeze. And action saves lives.

True preparedness isn’t just owning equipment—it’s building a lifesaving ecosystem:

Strategically placed AEDs
Routine equipment checks and maintenance
CPR and AED training for staff, volunteers, families, and students
Emergency action plans
Ongoing program management

Whether it’s a small home or a large organization, creating a comprehensive lifesaving solution ensures readiness every day—not just during emergencies. Preparedness lasts.

A ready-to-rescue AED, CPR training, and a lifesaving plan are gifts that can mean decades more birthdays, holidays, graduations, and anniversaries. This Heart Month and Valentine’s season, commit to protecting the hearts around you.

Place an AED.
Learn CPR.
Build a lifesaving solution.

Because nothing says “I love you” more than making sure everyone has the chance to come home safely.