Beginning September 24, 2025, Reno County EMS staff have been visiting local businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations to make sure Automated External Defibrillators — or AEDs — are properly registered, maintained, and ready for use in an emergency.
The outreach effort follows a new Kansas law that took effect July 1 requiring all AEDs to be registered through the PulsePoint app. The app allows emergency responders to quickly locate nearby defibrillators when someone experiences cardiac arrest and ensures that each device’s batteries and pads are up to date.
According to Reno County EMS Education Coordinator Connor Bounds, the verification process also opens doors for community outreach and training. EMS personnel are using site visits to educate the public about CPR, first aid, and the importance of AED maintenance.
Since the inspections began, EMS has already found locations with expired supplies and others that have recently added additional AEDs. The initiative has also sparked new interest from community members who want to learn bystander CPR.
Each minute counts during a cardiac emergency. National data show that for every minute a person in cardiac arrest does not receive CPR or have an AED applied, their chance of survival decreases by about 10 percent. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside hospitals each year and fewer than 10 percent surviving, EMS officials say widespread AED access and community training can make a critical difference.
Registering an AED is simple: residents and organizations can use the web links or QR codes provided by Reno County EMS to complete the process. Once registered, EMS staff will follow up to verify the information and offer details about upcoming CPR and first aid courses.
For more information or to register your AED, visit renocountyks.gov.