Cardiac Crusade, a non-profit organization started by Julie Coons, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, and her husband Greg, launched its life-saving mission in Boston yesterday. Julie Coons, whose own survival after a cardiac arrest was thanks to quick-thinking bystanders using an AED and performing CPR, has since then dedicated herself to making these crucial devices more accessible. According to a Boston 25 News report, the co-founder expressed, "I was personally saved by an AED, and I am 5 years strong after that event."
Within the heart of Boston, Cardiac Crusade's ambition is to fill the gaps, particularly in underserved areas lacking AED coverage. Julie highlighted to Boston 25 News that "Boston has some pockets that are not at all covered by AED." Her husband added the urgency of having access to AEDs, stating, "That’s the difference between someone living and someone dying."
The first phase of their initiative involves creating an extensive national database of AED locations, which serves as a resource for EMS dispatchers at no expense. Cardiac Crusade reports on their website that they have mapped over 1,200 AEDs during a campaign in Western New York, and their volunteers have verified more than 10,000 AEDs nationwide. With a substantial goal to register 1,500 AEDs in Massachusetts between October 16, 2025, to February 14, 2026, a sense of urgency was underlined by volunteers longing to save lives, much like Lauren Quint, who was saved by an AED a year and a half ago outside her doctor’s office.
The second phase of Cardiac Crusade aims to integrate AED locations directly into smartphone maps. Having already caught the attention of digital map makers, the organization is "in talks with multiple global mapping companies to make that happen," as stated on their website. This initiative mirrors the advanced AED mapping system like what Pulse Point offers in San Diego, which clearly shows the availability of AEDs in businesses and public spaces. Julie Coons' life-saving experience has been widely shared, including a TED Talk that has been racking up thousands of views, keen on spreading the word about the importance of AED accessibility.
Through their nationwide campaign, Cardiac Crusade is not only striving to mark AED locations on the map, but they are also empowering everyday individuals to become potential lifesavers. Greg Coons emphasized to Boston 25 News, "It’s a no-brainer, of course, it needs to be on the map. Of course, it's going to save lives." With every mapped AED comes the promise of a faster response in emergencies, potentially tipping the scale in favor of survival—because when it comes to cardiac arrest, every second counts.
