‘Behind the Blue’: From awareness to action, expanding access to AEDs in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 22, 2025) – Each year in the U.S., more than 350,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Survival in these moments depends on two critical factors: immediate bystander response and access to life-saving technology. Yet in many communities — especially in rural or under-resourced areas — those tools remain out of reach.
At the heart of the solution is the automated external defibrillator, or AED. Small, portable and easy to use, AEDs can drastically increase the odds of surviving cardiac arrest when paired with prompt CPR. But despite their effectiveness, these devices are still missing in far too many schools, offices, churches and public spaces across Kentucky and the nation.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” we speak with Shaun Mohan, M.D., an electrophysiologist and medical director of Project ADAM at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. Mohan discusses the mission to expand AED access through education and grassroots community partnerships, and how programs like Project ADAM are working to certify schools as “Heart Safe” — ensuring that faculty, staff and even students are trained and ready to respond in the moments that matter most.
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“Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
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