American Heart Association equipping FWPD patrol cars with AEDs

The American Heart Association is taking bold action to strengthen emergency response in Tarrant County by helping equip Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) patrol cars with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). This effort expands community access to lifesaving technology and supports the association’s national goal to double survival rates from out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest by 2030. This also advances its Nation of Lifesavers initiative, which strives to ensure that anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to act during a cardiac emergency.

In January, City Council authorized acceptance of a donation from the American Heart Association to equip patrol vehicles, with the donation made possible through support from local institutions, including the Amon G. Carter Foundation. Their early commitment helped inspire additional partners, including the Sid W. Richardson Foundation and BNSF Railway. BNSF was among the first funders to support Nation of Lifesavers across the country, including this local effort.

Tarrant County is one of three pilot markets nationwide to establish a Nation of Lifesavers Committee. The committee’s role is to unite leaders across education, healthcare, public safety and business; coordinate local strategies; and drive initiatives to strengthen the community’s chain of survival.

The effort to help provide AEDs for patrol cars stemmed from an idea generated during a Tarrant County Nation of Lifesavers Committee working session, where members brainstormed innovative ways to cut response times and increase survival rates from cardiac arrest. Committee members identified getting AEDs into patrol cars as a high‑impact, locally driven solution that could strengthen Fort Worth’s chain of survival. The committee works cooperatively with American Heart Association staff and includes members affiliated with school districts, public safety agencies, healthcare institutions and local businesses.

FWPD has approximately 1,800 officers and a fleet of about 450 patrol cars, and this initiative will provide 150 patrol cars with AEDs, expanding the number of units ready to respond by having additional lifesaving technology in key vehicles, including those deployed during both day and evening shifts.

Next steps include purchasing AED devices, equipping patrol vehicles, training officers and deploying AED‑equipped units across the city. Because officers are often already at or close to scenes where emergencies arise, the availability of AEDs in patrol vehicles significantly strengthens the chain of survival by shortening the time to defibrillation, which is one of the strongest predictors of survival.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 350,000 out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrests occurring each year, and 90% of them are fatal. About 70% occur at home, and only 41% of people receive CPR from a bystander before emergency responders arrive. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. For adults and teens, Hands‑Only CPR is highly effective during a cardiac arrest, but only 12% of those victims receive a shock from a bystander-applied AED.

Committee member affiliations

Baylor Scott & White, The Heart Hospital

Baylor Scott & White, The Heart Hospital

Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)

Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)

Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD)

Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD)

Deloitte

Deloitte

HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare

Hurst‑Euless‑Bedford Independent School District (HEB ISD)

Hurst‑Euless‑Bedford Independent School District (HEB ISD)

MedStar

MedStar

Medical City Alliance

Medical City Alliance

PWW Advisory Group

PWW Advisory Group

Reinhausen

Reinhausen

Anyone looking to support or join the Nation of Lifesavers Committee in Tarrant County can reach out to Jordan Campos via Jordan.Campos@heart.org for next steps.

Learn CPR. Save a life

This American Heart Month, the American Heart Association encourages all community members to learn Hands‑Only CPR, a simple skill that takes minutes to learn and enables anyone to become the first responder until help arrives. Learn more.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than 100 years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, it funds groundbreaking research, advocates for the public’s health and provides critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy and care, AHA works tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with them on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.