American Heart Association places AEDs at local community center to promote cardiac emergency readiness in Warren County
BOWLING GREEN, KY, July 16, 2025 — In a continued effort to make communities across Kentucky more heart-safe, the American Heart Association has teamed up with the Warren County Public Library to place two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at the SOKY Center in Warren County, Kentucky. The installations are part of the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) initiative, a statewide campaign sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) to improve emergency preparedness in communities.
The SOKY Center is a beloved community site that has long served as a cornerstone for Warren County’s residents. A year-round hub for engagement, the site hosts a popular farmers market in the summer, transforms into an ice-skating rink in the winter and features a fully equipped teaching kitchen that offers a variety of cooking classes.
While the space has played a vital role in bringing people together, it previously lacked a formal Cardiac Emergency Response Plan. Now, with the placement of two AEDs, one located outside the facility and another inside the teaching kitchen, visitors will have access to lifesaving equipment during the farmers market and other community events, providing immediate assistance in the event of a cardiac emergency, when every second counts.
“Everyone has a role to play in the chain of survival, and when a community has the resources and knowledge to act fast, the chances of surviving a cardiac emergency increase dramatically,” said Tracy Monks, Community Impact Director for the American Heart Association in Kentuckiana. “By working alongside KAHP the Warren County Public Library, we’re helping ensure this vital community space is better prepared to respond in an emergency, and we remain committed to expanding this work throughout Kentucky.”
To help community members gain confidence in using these lifesaving tools, the American Heart Association will host a tent at the SOKY Farmers Market this Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. located at 636 Center Street, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101. Visitors can stop by to learn life-saving skills such as performing Hands-Only CPR, recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest and understanding how quick action can save lives.
“We’re proud to work alongside the American Heart Association to empower our patrons to take charge of their heart health,” said Emily Witthuhn, Community Development Manager for the Warren County Public Library. “Through this collaboration, community members can access free blood pressure screenings or borrow a monitor and cuff from our Rice and Kirby branches. And with the addition of a new AED at the SOKY Center, our newest library location, we’re taking meaningful steps to make our spaces safer and more prepared for cardiac emergencies.”
Through efforts like this AED installation and the “Libraries with Heart” initiative, which allows patrons to check out blood pressure monitors just like they would a book, the Warren County Public Library is working alongside the American Heart Association to expand access to lifesaving tools, encourage preventive care and build a stronger culture of heart health and emergency readiness in the community.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Contact Leah Rafferty: leah.rafferty@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
