Medstar Donates an AED to St. John’s Lutheran Church
Medstar Supervisor, Frank Simone, presents an AED to church treasurer, Patricia Smith, accompanied by several members of the congregation.
Medstar continues its’ mission of improving cardiac patient outcomes by investing in Automated External Defibrillators (AED). Only 10% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive. Their chances double if a bystander uses and AED before first responders arrive.
Medstar has provides mini-grants to purchase AEDs for local civic, educational, and religious facilities for the past nine years and invites the community to support the program’s expansion. The Medstar Shock and Save Initiative is designed to measurably increase cardiac arrest survival throughout Medstar’s emergency service area. To increase AED access and utilization. To increase CPR and AED training and to support community leaders in local efforts to increase cardiac arrest survival and expand community CPR/AED training and AED ordinances.
St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Baltimore applied for, and were awarded, an AED through the Shock and Save Initiative. Medstar Supervisor, Frank Simone, made the presentation on Wednesday, 25, 2026. He explained the basics of the device. Select members of the congregation will receive CPR training, along with a detailed overview of their AED. Established in 1863, their mission is “To answer God’s call by Caring, Sharing, Teaching and Loving as Jesus has loved us.” Sunday services average two hundred and fifty worshippers. This life-saving device will bring peace of mind to the congregation.
“Medstar recognizes community AED placement as the most important component of increasing cardiac arrest survival throughout our nine-county service area,” said Kolby Miller, Medstar CEO. “We’re incredibly thankful for our healthcare and community partners for helping us expand this vital initiative. The more AEDs we can get into the community, the more lives will be saved.”
To learn about or to apply for the Shock & Save Community AED Initiative grant program, visit: