Forest River Inc. has announced it is in the process of installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in 120 of its facilities across its operations, reinforcing the company’s ongoing commitment to employee health and safety.
Each of the 120 facilities will have at least one team member certified in AED and CPR response, Forest River said, equipping trained responders to act quickly should a cardiac emergency take place. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the company’s safety and human resources teams and includes both equipment placement and hands-on training.
“At Forest River, people come first, and looking out for one another is more than a statement — it’s a responsibility,” said David Youman, chief compliance officer. “By strategically placing AEDs where our people work and training responders how to use them, we’re strengthening our ability to act quickly when every second matters in a cardiac event.”
Sudden cardiac arrest can occur without warning and remains a leading cause of workplace medical emergencies. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 10,000 cardiac arrests occur in the workplace each year. Survival rates decrease significantly with every minute of delay in defibrillation, while immediate use of an AED within the first minute can dramatically improve survival outcomes.
Industry research also indicates that more than half of employees do not know where their workplace AED is located. Forest River’s initiative prioritizes both accessibility and awareness, so employees understand where devices are located and how fast they respond in the event of a cardiac emergency, the company said.
“Although we hope these resources are never needed, our facilities are prepared to respond should the need arise,” Youman said. “The possibility of saving even one life is reason enough to make this investment.”
Forest River said it plans to expand AED placement in additional facilities and scale responder certifications as the rollout continues.
