Rapid, the mascot for the Springfield Drifters baseball team, shows off a “SaveStation” unit, with a portable automated external defibrillator device inside, Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield. Credit: Mike McInally / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

PeaceHealth, with support from the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, has installed four outdoor AED SaveStations at athletic facilities across Eugene and Springfield to improve emergency response during cardiac events.

The publicly accessible AED units are located at Hamlin Middle School, the Willamalane Les Schwab Sports Complex, Lane Community College, and the Babe Ruth Sports Complex.

The SaveStations are designed for outdoor use and provide guided instructions to help bystanders respond quickly during sudden cardiac arrest emergencies before first responders arrive.

“We know that about one in every 40,000 athletes will have a cardiac arrest.”

— JoAnna Kamppi, Retired EMS Chief, Eugene Springfield Fire

Officials said the installations were intentionally placed near youth sports facilities to improve access where large numbers of young athletes and families gather.

The climate-controlled cabinets remain unlocked for immediate access and include security features such as audible alarms, photo capture, and GPS tracking when the AED is removed.

“It’s really important for the public to know that you can make a huge difference by taking action before we get there.”

— Amy Kline, EMS Captain, Eugene Springfield Fire

The project was funded through a $50,000 grant from the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, which also helped provide bleeding control kits inside each SaveStation cabinet.