American Heart Association partnership brings cardiac preparedness, CPR training and AED resources to Cincinnati Parks.
On World Restart a Heart Day, October 16, Cincinnati Parks Foundation joined Cincinnati Parks, the American Heart Association and community partners at Bettman Nature Center to celebrate an important investment in cardiac emergency preparedness across the city park system.
Representatives from Cincinnati Parks, Cincinnati Parks Foundation, American Heart Association and the Cincinnati Health Department
Thanks to a grant from the American Heart Association, funded through the Paycor Community Impact Fund, Cincinnati Parks will strengthen its ability to respond to cardiac emergencies through improved emergency response planning, expanded CPR training opportunities and increased access to lifesaving resources.
The funding will support the development of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) at six Cincinnati Parks nature centers: Bettman, Avon Woods, Burnet Woods, Caldwell, California Woods and LeBoiteaux Woods. It will also help assess opportunities for automated external defibrillator (AED) placement an expand CPR training and certification capacity for Cincinnati Parks staff.
During the event, attendees had an opportunity to learn about Hands-Only CPR and practice skills that can make a difference when every second counts.
The importance of this work is clear. Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience an EMS-assessed cardiac arrest outside a hospital. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
The event also brought together community members with a deeply personal commitment to cardiac emergency preparedness, including Kim and Matt Mangine, founders of the Matthew Mangine, Jr., One Shot Foundation.
After losing their 16-year-old son Matthew following a collapse at soccer practice in 2020, the Mangine family has dedicated itself to helping prevent similar tragedies through education, emergency preparedness and AED access.
Cincinnati has long been a place for people to connect, get active and improve their physical and mental well-being. This new investment makes our parks more prepared to respond when a medical emergency occurs.
We’re grateful to the American Heart Association, Paycor Community Impact Fund, the Mangine family and our community partners for helping make Cincinnati Parks a healthier, more prepared place for everyone.
Learn more about Hands-Only CPR training and how you can save a life at heart.org.