HeartSafe Community

Working together to save lives

Launched in 2013, HeartSafe Community (HSC) is a Healthy Petaluma program that makes our communities “rescue ready” through CPR/AED training, strategic AED installation, AED maintenance and registration, and heart health education.

This year, more than 300,000 Americans will be victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). HeartSafe Community joins local police and fire departments, emergency medical transport providers, hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and the American Heart Association to work together to reduce deaths from cardiac emergencies.

See the most recent proclamation from City Hall designating Petaluma as a “HeartSafe Community” here.

If interested in joining our HeartSafe Community efforts please email healthquest@healthypetaluma.org or phone (707)766-9226 to learn more.

“Health care doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office door. So many things contribute to good health. And community health means all the community. Every one of us.”

- Ramona Faith, CEO Healthy Petaluma

“Strengthening our community’s response to cardiac emergencies through CPR and AED training saves lives. Everyone can save a life!”

- Dr. Richard Strunin, Medical Director for HeartSafe Community

Chris and partner Joshua - Petaluma residents

HeartSafe Businesses

You can protect the health and safety of your employees! Many businesses in the North Bay have joined HSC to ensure workplace safety and support employee wellness programs. SCA is the leading cause of workplace death – killing 10,000 American employees every year, according to OSHA. Immediate CPR and AED deployment within 3-5 minutes of collapse increases SCA survival rates by as much as 70%. Survival rates with CPR alone are about 7%.

Our HSC staff will work to meet the unique needs of your business and ensure the safety of your staff. Becoming a HeartSafe business benefits your employees and the entire community. 

6 Reasons to become a HeartSafe Community Business

  1. Support your workplace in becoming rescue ready

  2. Gain access to legislative watch information and updates on being in compliance with California Health and Safety Codes

  3. Get discounts on AED purchases, CPR training, and replacement parts

  4. Access experienced professional CPR instructors and partner with community leaders

  5. Be recognized and promoted as a HeartSafe Community Leader

  6. Support health and wellness in your organization.

For more information about our HeartSafe Community Businesses program call (707) 766-9226.

HeartSafe Schools

You can protect the health and safety of your staff and students! Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the number one killer of student athletes. Every three days, a student athlete will lose their life to SCA. Fortunately, you can make a difference and raise survival rates from just 7% to 70% by becoming a HeartSafe School.

HeartSafe Community partners with schools throughout the North Bay to ensure students and staff are ready to respond to an SCA. Join the hundreds of school campuses already enrolled in our HeartSafe School Program.  Becoming a HeartSafe Community School means your campus will be equipped with CPR/AED & First Aid certified staff, an accessible and maintained AED, Epi-Pen and Narcan training,  Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERP), Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT), and education and outreach materials for students, staff, and families.

We also offer Hands-Only CPR and AED Training and CPR certification for students. These life-saving skills will prepare students for real-world careers and programs that require training or certification. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, all California public schools requiring health education for graduation must provide Hands-Only CPR training as part of their student instruction. Our HeartSafe Community Schools program and staff can help you be prepared and compliant with the law.

We are proud to report that in 2016, every school in the Petaluma area as well as Shoreline Unified School District became HeartSafe Community Schools. In 2022, Santa Rosa City School district also became a Heartsafe School District. 

For more information about our HeartSafe Community Schools program call (707) 766-9226.

How to Become a HeartSafe Organization

Here are just a few of the ways our AED Maintenance and Compliance Program can help:

  • Site assessment

    We will help you evaluate the proper number of AEDs needed for your location(s) and ensure devices are installed in the correct places.

  • Medical direction

    We will provide on-going medical direction policy and procedure assistance. We will supply each of your locations with a policy and procedure document, which can be used as a template or the final product.

  • Local county AED registration with EMS

    Monthly email reminder for AED checks. We will send a monthly email reminder to visually check your AED and document it on the AED checklist sheet we provide. Our customer care rep will follow up if we don’t hear from you.

  • Battery and electrode expiration-date tracking

    We will monitor the expiration date of your batteries and pads and alert you with a part replacement quote letting you know it is time to order.  

  • Post-event debrief and evaluation assistance

    You used your AED—now what?  Assistance in preparing your AED to be placed back into service and assist with event debriefing personnel if needed. 

  • Upgrade and recall assistance

    If your AED is recalled or requires an upgrade, how will you know? We will, and we’ll help you replace it or upgrade your device.

  • Trained-responder tracking

    We’ll help you keep track of who in your organization gets CPR certified and when their certification expires.


Please email healthquest@healthypetaluma.org or phone 707-766-9226 to learn more.

The HSC program has been developed using California Health and Safety Codes Title 22 for Public Access Defibrillators, California Senate Bill  No. 658, local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), FDA, OSHA, and the policies and procedures maintained by HealthQuest CPR under the guidelines of the American Heart Association.