Government Funding for Rural AEDs Increases

The U.S. Congress recently passed legislation that increases funding to the Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Grant Program. This program provides funding to rural communities to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide training in their use and maintenance.

Awards are made to community partnerships, made up of first responders such as EMS, law enforcement and fire departments, and local concerns such as long-term care facilities, rural health clinics, community health centers, post offices, libraries and other civic centers, athletic facilities, senior citizen and day care facilities, faith-based organizations and schools without AEDs.

For information on what areas are eligible for RAED Grants see Geographic Eligibility for Rural Health Grant Programs.