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Gold firefighter badge with "BTFD" at the top, "Fire" on the left, "Rescue" on the right, "Est. 1978" at the bottom, and a center image of a tree, water, and sunset. Text within says "Devoted to Duty Above Personal Risk.
The image displays the word "BLUFFTON" in capital letters with a gold-colored serif font on a white background.

AED Program

Expanding access to life-saving defibrillators throughout our community.

Every Second Counts

Empowering Our Community to Save Lives with Public Access AEDs

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time—and when it happens, every second counts. The Bluffton Township Fire District’s Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program is designed to dramatically improve survival rates by making Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) readily accessible in public spaces throughout our community.

What is an AED?

An Automated External Defibrillator is a portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock (defibrillation) to help re-establish a normal heartbeat. AEDs are safe, easy to use, and designed for bystanders with minimal or no medical training.

Close-up of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) case with a red heart and lightning bolt symbol, fire district and Learn CPR stickers visible on the clear cover.

Why it Matters?

When someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediate intervention. Quick CPR and early defibrillation—ideally within the first few minutes—can double or even triple survival rates. But emergency responders can’t always get there fast enough on their own.

That’s why placing AEDs in high-traffic, high-risk locations—and training the public to use them—is critical to saving lives.

Program Goals

  • Reduce response time to cardiac emergencies by making AEDs easily accessible
  • Educate the public on how to recognize cardiac arrest and use an AED
  • Build a stronger, response-ready community through education and preparedness

Where You’ll See AEDs

The program is launching in select locations within the Town of Bluffton and will expand across the entire Fire District, including:

  • Public buildings and parks
  • Schools and municipal facilities
  • High-traffic community gathering spaces

Community Involvement

We believe creating a community prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies is a shared responsibility. In addition to placing AEDs, BTFD supports the public by offering:

  • Hands-only CPR and AED awareness training
  • Support for local businesses and organizations that want to participate
  • Educational materials and guidance on AED use, maintenance, and registration
A map showing Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and surrounding areas in South Carolina, with multiple colored dots marking locations across towns, waterways, and islands. Major roads and rivers are also visible.

Get Involved

Are you part of a business, school, or community group interested in strengthening emergency readiness?

Contact us to:

Note: The Fire District installs and maintains AEDs in public spaces only. We rely on community partners and businesses to share information about their AEDs so we can map them and support broader awareness. AEDs reported to us are added to our GIS system and displayed as orange markers, while District-managed AEDs are marked in green.

Have a question or want to notify us of an AED in your facility?
Visit our Contact Page to get in touch | Notify Us of Your AED via our Online Form

Together, we can build a safer Bluffton—one heartbeat at a time.