USA FOOTBALL & DEFIBTECH SUPPORT ATHLETE HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH AED GRANT
USA Football has awarded more than 150 AEDs over the past three years
INDIANAPOLIS – Health and safety are critical components of USA Football's efforts to support and grow the sport as football’s National Governing Body. To assist local organizations, USA Football partnered with Defibtech to introduce its AED grant in 2023 and has since awarded more than 150 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and training across the country.
USA Football’s extensive collection of resources includes information on formulating emergency action plans (EAPs) to respond to emergencies related to medical conditions, the weather and more. An AED is among the most important equipment every organization should have as part of their EAP. According to the American Health Association, nine in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute live.
This time of year is extremely important for athlete health and wellness as many programs are in the opening stages of their seasons while the summer heat lingers. To help organizations protect their athletes, coaches, referees and spectators, USA Football awarded 38 AEDs this year through Defibtech and provided access to AED training.
“In 2023, we felt it was important to expand our grants program to include AEDs. This is life-saving equipment, and, when you think about how many athletes, parents and volunteers gather during football games, it makes sense for every organization to have one on site,” said Beth Porreca, USA Football Senior Director of Grants. “We’re thrilled to deliver so many AEDs to programs this year and are grateful to have awarded more than 150 through our partnership with Defibtech across the grant’s lifetime.”
According to a paper published in Clinical Cardiology in 2023, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading medical cause of death in athletes and can occur regardless of age and physical conditioning. Early CPR and the use of an AED are two of the best immediate responses to SCA while waiting for emergency services to arrive and significantly increase the chances of survival.
Defibtech is a leader and innovator in the design and manufacture of life-saving resuscitation devices, including their lightweight and robust AEDs. The company has shipped more than 700,000 AEDs worldwide.
“We are extremely proud to continue our partnership with USA Football and support its AED grant program,” said AJ Pace, President & CEO of Defibtech. “Awarding more than 150 AEDs through our collaboration represents a meaningful step in the fight to stop sudden cardiac arrest from claiming more lives. The impact of this program is far-reaching. As both a coach and the father of a youth football player, this initiative is especially meaningful to me, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”
USA Football’s grants program also includes fall & spring grants, CATCH grants, flag equipment grants and girls’ flag football grants. Together, these grants provide grassroots organizations with the equipment and resources they need to meet the growing demand for educational and competitive football opportunities.
Since 2006, USA Football has awarded more than $23 million in grants to more than 16,000 programs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. USA Football offers grant opportunities throughout the year to enrolled organizations. Enrollment is free. To learn more or to apply for available grants, visit usafootball.com/grants.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.
About Defibtech: Defibtech is a leader and innovator in the design and manufacture of life-saving resuscitation devices, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), mechanical chest compressors, and related accessories that the public and healthcare professionals depend on every day. With more than 700,000 AED units shipped worldwide, Defibtech is committed to saving lives by producing the best AEDs that advanced medical technology has to offer. Headquartered in Guilford, Conn., all of Defibtech’s life-saving products are conceived and developed in-house and are designed and built in the United States at their state-of-the-art facilities. For more information about Defibtech and its products, visit www.defibtech.com