CHELMSFORD, Mass. 鈥� A new national effort aims to expand the database of publicly accessible AEDs, making it easier for 911 centers and bystanders to locate the devices during cardiac emergencies.
The project, called Anyone Can Register, will recruit volunteers, AED owners and manufacturers to add device locations to the National Emergency AED Registry (NEAR). The , a nonprofit that develops public safety apps and manages NEAR, and , a manufacturer of AEDs and other medical devices, are coordinating the initiative.
The program will enlist volunteers, AED owners and manufacturers to grow NEAR so AED locations nationwide are easier to find and recommended during cardiac emergencies.
| MORE: The history of AEDs: From scientific breakthrough to layperson use
Launching in February 2026 during American Heart Month, it鈥檚 part of ZOLL鈥檚 鈥�鈥� campaign to turn CPR awareness into action by showing how AEDs guide bystanders through CPR and can improve cardiac arrest outcomes, according to a from ZOLL.
鈥淚n a cardiac emergency, when seconds count, it is crucial to quickly locate the nearest AED,鈥� ZOLL Acute Care Technology President Elijah White said. 鈥淲ith PulsePoint, we鈥檙e working to make NEAR the nation鈥檚 first comprehensive registry, bringing all AEDs, no matter brand or owner, into a single validated system so these devices are always findable in emergencies.鈥�
The free app lets users add AED locations to NEAR and connects the registry to 911 systems so call takers can direct callers to nearby devices. It can also alert nearby AED owners and trained volunteers when a defibrillator is urgently needed, helping them act in those critical first seconds.
Anyone Can Register will tap volunteers, AED makers, and device owners to help find and add local AEDs to NEAR using the PulsePoint AED app or 鈥� a simple, scalable process that lets anyone grow the registry in minutes.
