American Heart Month: Supporting Community Safety Through Employee CPR and AED Training

February is American Heart Month, a great time to remember that heart health and emergency preparedness can save lives. At Wake Electric, safety is one of our core mission values, and our commitment extends beyond keeping our facilities safe; it also includes helping build safer, better-prepared communities.

That commitment starts with our employees. Every Wake Electric employee receives annual certification in CPR, AED use, and first aid. While this training is essential for workplace safety, its impact reaches far beyond the job site. Our employees live, work, volunteer, and raise families throughout the communities we serve, carrying these lifesaving skills with them wherever they go.

“Safety culture doesn’t stop at our facilities,” said Earbie Goodman, job training and safety director at Wake Electric. “We want our employees to have the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency, whether they’re at work, at home, or out in the community.”

Wake Electric also equips its crews with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on service trucks and at the cooperative’s facilities. Having AEDs readily available enables trained employees to respond quickly to potential cardiac emergencies.

Every year, more than 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest, often before emergency responders can arrive. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. When an AED is used within the first few minutes, survival rates can reach nearly 95%. Designed to be simple and user-friendly, AEDs guide users step by step during an emergency.

The tools to save a life are simple and powerful — but they only work if people know how to use them and are ready to help. This American Heart Month, Wake Electric encourages members to learn CPR, and learn how to use an AED. When more neighbors are prepared to respond, our communities become safer, stronger, and better connected.