Superior Health Foundation distributes AEDs across Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - The Superior Health Foundation (SHF) has distributed more than 30 new Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs.

“Timing is essential, if you happen to witness somebody who goes down and you check for a pulse, notice that there is a low pulse, shallow breathing, you can have someone get an AED for you, get it hooked up, start chest compressions,” Negaunee Knights of Columbus Member Jeffery Gardyko said.

Gardyko helped bring a new AED to the St. Paul Catholic Church in Negaunee. The AEDs are made available to non-profit groups across upper Michigan thanks to a program with the Superior Health Foundation.

This year, the SHF distributed 32 new AEDs. The CEO for the foundation, Megan Murphy, said the AED program fits well within the mission of the SHF.

“We are here to help organizations improve the health and well-being of U.P. residents, and this is a really important way to do that because it allows for different community centers, community groups, EMT, fire and police to have AEDs handy should a cardiac emergency happen on their watch,” Murphy said.

Receiving an AED is only the first step. This year, SHF partnered with Superior Life Services to offer AED, CPR, and first aid training to all recipients, so the people most likely to be present in an emergency are equipped to act. Murphy said they’ve been distributing AEDs since 2012, and they see the need continue to grow.

“We usually open up our AED program on February first for heart month and it’s first-come, first-served so, they go pretty quickly, when we did it in 2025, we ran out in 11 days, this year, we ran out in five, the word is out, people know that we’re doing this and they are definitely coming for the AED’s as soon as possible because it is a significant need across the Upper Peninsula,” Murphy said.

According to the Superior Health Foundation, in the event of a cardiac emergency, if CPR is started immediately and a defibrillator is used within three minutes, survival rates can reach up to 70%.

Copyright 2026 WLUC. All rights reserved.

Read the TV 6 article here.