American Heart Association applauds student innovation and community readiness in Dallas-Fort Worth

Through shared vision and innovation, McKinney is demonstrating what is possible when communities align around a common goal: preparing more individuals to respond to cardiac emergencies and ensuring lifesaving tools such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are accessible throughout the city.

This work reflects the goals of the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative—a national movement to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030. The initiative encourages widespread CPR education, AED awareness, and the development of systems that support rapid response. McKinney’s approach exemplifies how local leadership, and collaboration can bring this vision to life.

Cardiac arrest can occur without warning, and immediate action is critical. Hands-Only CPR helps maintain blood flow to vital organs, while an AED can restore a normal heart rhythm. When used together, CPR and AEDs can double or even triple the chance of survival. Despite this, most cardiac arrests occur at home, and fewer than half of victims receive bystander CPR. Increasing community
readiness is essential for survival.

The McKinney Fire Department has deployed more than 150 AEDs across the community, including in public libraries, parks, recreation centers, and police vehicles. This effort supports McKinney’s aim to become a designated “Lighthouse Community”—a distinction given to cities where every resident is within four minutes of an AED. Fewer than a dozen such communities exist nationwide, including nearby Carrollton, Texas, which became one of the first in the country to achieve this status led by Carrolton Fire Rescue.

A recent collaboration with McKinney ISD is helping to advance this goal by engaging students in real-world problem-solving. Led by the district’s GT STEM Lead Daniel Buhrow, fourth and fifth-grade students participated in a project that combined science, engineering, and civic responsibility. After learning about the circulatory system, cardiac arrest, and the role of CPR and AEDs in survival, students were introduced to a design challenge: how to mount the city’s new, smaller AEDs in public cabinets.

Traditional AED cabinets were built for older, bulkier models. The newer devices—while more portable—often do not fit securely and may appear unprofessional or difficult to access. The McKinney Fire Department identified this issue and tasked students with designing a custom container that would hold the AED securely and visibly inside the cabinet. Students received specifications, scale models, and access to a 3D scanner to measure the AED and its external battery.

Student teams tested their models under stress, calculated 3D printing costs, and presented their designs to McKinney Fire Department personnel—responding to questions about durability, efficiency, and design uniqueness. Inspired by downtown McKinney’s “Tiny Doors” public art project, students were encouraged to incorporate creativity into their solutions. One student’s design mimicked a video game console and controller—an imaginative concept that would be especially fun and fitting for placement in an arcade or entertainment venue.

Several of the student-designed models are now being evaluated for real-world use, with the potential to be installed in AED cabinets across McKinney. By creating a custom solution in-house, the McKinney Fire Department estimates the city could save hundreds of dollars per unit compared to purchasing commercial alternatives—funds that can instead be used to place more AEDs in the community. The project not only solved a practical challenge but also demonstrated how local innovation can stretch lifesaving resources further.

“I am so humbled and in awe at the work they are doing! We really have a great community,” said Battalion Chief Ben Jones of the McKinney Fire Department. “These students are helping solve real problems—and they are doing it with creativity, heart, and purpose. People my age often walk past an AED without noticing it or thinking about it. Now, elementary school students are coming up and telling me where they have seen AEDs in the community. That kind of awareness is powerful—and it is
exactly what this initiative is about.”

Educators also noted the impact. One teacher shared that students began noticing AEDs in grocery stores, gyms, and parks—places they had never paid attention to before. “They’re not just learning science—they’re learning how to save lives,” the teacher said.

The American Heart Association’s local market team regularly collaborates with fire departments across
the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to support lifesaving initiatives — CPR training, promoting AED access
and helping communities strengthen emergency response systems. The efforts of the McKinney Fire
Department highlight the impact of community-driven innovation and education.

“This is what building a Nation of Lifesavers looks like— education and awareness, neighbors helping neighbors, and students becoming heroes,” said Jenny Eyer, Vice President of Community Impact for the American Heart Association in North Texas.

Support for Nation of Lifesavers™ efforts in North Texas can take many forms: learning CPR, advocating for CPR education and AED access, or joining a local initiative. To get involved, contact the American Heart Association’s North Texas Community Impact team at Rosa.Leal@heart.org.

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, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.