The City of Santa Cruz has unveiled a new publicly accessible AED SaveStation at Lighthouse Point, expanding emergency preparedness in one of the city’s busiest outdoor recreation areas.

The climate-controlled SaveStation cabinet, located near the Santa Cruz Surf Museum, provides 24/7 public access to an automated external defibrillator for use during sudden cardiac emergencies.

“This is more than a ribbon cutting. It’s a commitment to the people who make this community what it is.”

— Santa Cruz Fire Chief Rob Oatey

The installation was coordinated through a partnership between the Santa Cruz Fire Department and nonprofit organization Six Minutes to Live: Santa Cruz. The SaveStation cabinet was donated by Action First Aid, while the AED was donated by Rescue One.

Photo source: Caroline Hemphill — Santa Cruz Sentinel

The outdoor cabinet includes lighting for nighttime visibility, an alarm system, and text alert notifications when the AED is accessed or tampered with.

Officials say Lighthouse Point was selected due to its high visitor traffic, outdoor activities such as surfing and biking, and the lack of nearby public AED access.

“I really do believe so strongly in the fact that this community is full of people who care about each other.”

— Hilary Gates, Co-Founder, Six Minutes to Live

Additional SaveStations are planned for other locations across Santa Cruz County, including the Santa Cruz Harbor and Capitola Beach area.