LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton joined healthcare professionals, first responders, and community members at Lexington Fire Station 1 to announce the launch of the Cardiac Crusade initiative, a volunteer-driven effort to map the locations of Automatic External Defibrillators across the city, according to LFUCG General News.

Gorton, a registered nurse, emphasized the initiative's critical importance in improving survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. "With quick action, including use of an AED, the potential for survival is increased dramatically," Gorton said. The effort represents a partnership among the nonprofit Cardiac Crusade, Lexington Fire Department, Lexington Division of E-911, UK Healthcare, and the American Heart Association.

The push for the initiative came after a personal story shared with Councilmember Tyler Morton by District 1 constituent Sarah Katzenmaier, whose near-fatal experience highlighted the need for accessible AED information. Katzenmaier survived sudden cardiac arrest in 2021 during the city's annual Thriller parade after bystanders and Charlotte Callan, a local resident, performed CPR. However, those closest to her initially didn't know where the nearest AED was located.

"When someone experiences cardiac arrest, every second matters," Morton said. "By mapping AEDs and increasing awareness of where these lifesaving devices are located, we are giving residents better tools to respond when it matters most."

The local volunteer group, Cardiac CATS, led by Katzenmaier and Callan, is coordinating efforts to visit, verify, and map AEDs across Lexington. According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death worldwide, with more than 350,000 cases occurring outside hospitals annually and a 90 percent fatality rate. The organization notes that less than half of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR from bystanders while awaiting emergency responders, though immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chances of survival.