AT ELK GROVE CITY HALL. SACRAMENTO FIREFIGHTERS LAUNCHING A NEW EFFORT DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES. IT TURNS PEOPLE INTO CITIZENS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. IT’S A COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM. IT TEACHES PEOPLE CPR AND GIVES THEM ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT. TODAY, THE RANCHO CORDOVA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT INSTALLED A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE 24 HOUR A DAY AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR AT HAGAN PARK. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THAT THIS EQUIPMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE LIVES, SO IT’S VITAL TO HAVE AN AED IN A PUBLIC PLACE. THERE’S VERY FEW. IN FACT, THEY’RE RARE TO HAVE AEDS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS IN METRO FIRE JURISDICTION, WE COVER OVER 720,000 PEOPLE. THERE ARE ONLY THREE PUBLIC ACCESS AEDS NOW, INCLUDING THIS ONE. TWO OF THEM ARE IN PARKS AND ONE OF THEM IS IN A PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER UNVEILING THE AED METRO FIRE HOSTED A CPR TRAINING EVENT OFFERING COM
Sacramento Metro Fire launches citizen responder program to encourage emergency training
Updated: 9:34 PM PST Nov 12, 2025
Sacramento Metro Firefighters on Wednesday hosted a ceremony to launch a community-based program designed to empower citizens with CPR skills and access to life-saving equipment. The Rancho Cordova Recreation and Park District installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) at Hagan Park, accessible 24 hours a day, which firefighters say has the potential to save lives.James Ellis from Sac Metro Fire emphasized the importance of citizen action in emergencies. “We need our citizen responders to start CPR and to use an AED to give anyone a chance at survival. If a witnessed cardiac arrest happens, and someone starts CPR immediately, they have a 30% chance of survival, and with the use of an AED, it’s a 50% chance of survival,” Ellis said.Ellis also highlighted the scarcity of AEDs in public places. “It’s vital to have an AED in a public place; there’s very few. In fact, it’s rare to have AEDs in a public setting. In Metro Fire’s jurisdiction, we cover over 720,000 people and there are only three public access AEDs, including this one. Two of them are in parks and one is in a private neighborhood,” he said.After unveiling the AED, Metro Fire hosted a CPR training event, offering community members the opportunity to learn essential, life-saving skills.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. —
Sacramento Metro Firefighters on Wednesday hosted a ceremony to launch a community-based program designed to empower citizens with CPR skills and access to life-saving equipment.
The Rancho Cordova Recreation and Park District installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) at Hagan Park, accessible 24 hours a day, which firefighters say has the potential to save lives.
James Ellis from Sac Metro Fire emphasized the importance of citizen action in emergencies.
“We need our citizen responders to start CPR and to use an AED to give anyone a chance at survival. If a witnessed cardiac arrest happens, and someone starts CPR immediately, they have a 30% chance of survival, and with the use of an AED, it’s a 50% chance of survival,” Ellis said.
Ellis also highlighted the scarcity of AEDs in public places.
“It’s vital to have an AED in a public place; there’s very few. In fact, it’s rare to have AEDs in a public setting. In Metro Fire’s jurisdiction, we cover over 720,000 people and there are only three public access AEDs, including this one. Two of them are in parks and one is in a private neighborhood,” he said.
After unveiling the AED, Metro Fire hosted a CPR training event, offering community members the opportunity to learn essential, life-saving skills.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel