Play With Heart Foundation Partners with Response Ready to Donate AEDs to Point Break Volleyball Club

Point Break Volleyball athletes with their newly donated AED

Members of Point Break Volleyball proudly showcasing their new AED

A safer court for Point Break Volleyball with the addition of a new AED

Point Break Volleyball is now better prepared with a new AED

Point Break Volleyball team members with their newly placed AED

Two AED donations strengthens cardiac emergency preparedness as California youth sports prepare for new AED and CPR requirements.

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, August 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Play With Heart Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes, has donated two automated external defibrillators (AED) to Point Break Volleyball Club, strengthening cardiac emergency preparedness for a nonprofit youth volleyball organization serving families throughout the San Diego community.

The AEDs were presented during a ceremony attended by athletes, families and coaches. Play With Heart Foundation made the donation in partnership with Response Ready, reflecting a shared commitment to helping youth sports organizations pair lifesaving equipment with education, training and emergency planning.

“We believe every child should have the opportunity to play the sport they love in the safest environment possible,” said Amy Huang, Co-Founder of Play With Heart Foundation. “Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning. When it does, immediate access to an AED and people who are prepared to respond can mean the difference between life and death.”

Point Break Volleyball Club is dedicated to developing young athletes both on and off the court. Through competitive volleyball, mentorship and community engagement, the organization helps young people build confidence, character, teamwork and resilience in a positive and supportive environment.

The addition of two AEDs strengthens the club’s ability to respond if a cardiac emergency occurs involving an athlete, coach, official, family member or visitor.

“This donation is much more than a piece of equipment. It is a gift that could one day save a life,” said Neil Macasadia, Board Member at Point Break Volleyball Club. “We are honored to partner with Play With Heart Foundation and Response Ready while helping raise awareness about the importance of cardiac preparedness in youth sports.”

The donation also highlights a larger shift in youth sports safety: cardiac emergency readiness is moving from a best practice to an expected part of organized athletics.

Preparing for California’s New Youth Sports Safety Requirements

The donation comes as California youth sports organizations prepare for new cardiac emergency requirements under Assembly Bill 310, also known as the Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act.

Beginning January 1, 2027, covered youth sports organizations must ensure that coaches are certified and recertified at least every two years in CPR and AED operation. Organizations must also establish a written cardiac emergency response plan.
Beginning January 1, 2028, organizations must ensure athletes have access to an AED during official practices and matches. AEDs must be properly maintained and tested according to applicable manufacturer and regulatory requirements.

For many leagues, particularly nonprofits and organizations serving communities with limited resources, meeting these requirements will take more than purchasing an AED. Organizations will need training, written response plans, maintenance procedures, documentation and ongoing support.

Partnerships among nonprofits, safety organizations, schools, athletic programs and community leaders can help organizations move from basic awareness to meaningful, real-world readiness.

For youth sports organizations, the path to readiness begins with practical steps: confirming AED access, training coaches in CPR and AED use, creating a written cardiac emergency response plan, documenting inspections and keeping preparedness procedures current throughout the season.

Why AED Access Matters

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating effectively. It can happen without warning, including in young people who appear healthy.

When a person experiences sudden cardiac arrest, the people nearby become the first critical links in the emergency response. Calling 911, starting CPR and using an AED as quickly as possible can substantially improve the person’s chance of survival.
According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chance of survival after cardiac arrest.

An AED can analyze the person’s heart rhythm and, when appropriate, deliver a shock intended to restore an effective rhythm.
“This is about more than placing a device in a gym or beside a court,” said Ian Dickinson, Co-Founder of Play With Heart Foundation. “It is about making sure coaches, volunteers and families know where the AED is, understand the emergency plan and feel prepared to act. That confidence and preparation matter.”

Turning AED Access Into Real-World Readiness

Response Ready partnered with Play With Heart Foundation to support the donation and help ensure the AEDs are integrated into a broader preparedness program for the club.

Effective cardiac emergency response depends not only on having an AED available, but also on proper placement, regular inspection and maintenance, trained responders and a clearly communicated emergency response plan.

“An AED can only save a life when it is accessible, operational and supported by people who are prepared to use it,” said Shahin Enayati, Managing Partner of Response Ready. “Our role is to help organizations establish the training, program structure and ongoing oversight needed so people can respond immediately and confidently during an emergency.”

Response Ready supports youth sports organizations by helping them:

• Select and appropriately place AEDs
• Develop cardiac emergency response plans
• Coordinate CPR and AED training and recertification
• Establish AED inspection and maintenance procedures
• Document organizational compliance and preparedness
• Reinforce emergency response procedures with coaches and staff

These measures help protect athletes, strengthen trust among parents and reduce uncertainty during the critical minutes before emergency medical services arrive.

Expanding Access to Lifesaving Resources

Since its founding in June 2022, Play With Heart Foundation has conducted community awareness initiatives, supported free heart health screenings, donated AEDs to youth sports organizations and schools, and helped establish high school clubs focused on heart health and emergency preparedness.

Through its community partnerships, the foundation has helped provide free electrocardiogram screenings to more than 1,000 young athletes and teenagers. These initiatives also create opportunities for participants and families to learn about CPR, AED use and sudden cardiac arrest awareness.

The foundation continues to work with local leagues, schools and athletic programs that might otherwise lack access to AEDs, cardiovascular screenings, emergency response education and other critical preparedness resources.

Point Break Volleyball Club encourages families, coaches, athletic organizations and community members to learn more about sudden cardiac arrest, CPR and AED training, and the importance of having a practiced cardiac emergency response plan before an emergency occurs.

Together, these efforts show how preparedness before an emergency gives ordinary people the knowledge and confidence to take extraordinary action when every second matters.

How Organizations Can Take the Next Step

Youth sports leagues, schools and community organizations seeking support with AED placement, CPR and AED training, cardiac emergency response planning or ongoing AED program management can work with Response Ready to turn readiness requirements into practical, sustainable programs.

Community members and organizations that want to expand AED access for young athletes can support Play With Heart Foundation’s mission to provide screenings, AED donations, youth heart safety education and emergency preparedness resources.

Common Questions About AED Readiness in Youth Sports

Why do youth sports organizations need AEDs? Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning, including among young athletes who appear healthy. Having an accessible AED, trained responders and a practiced emergency plan helps organizations respond during the critical minutes before emergency medical services arrive.

What are California’s youth sports AED requirements? California youth sports organizations are preparing for phased cardiac emergency requirements under Assembly Bill 310, including coach CPR and AED certification, written emergency response planning and AED access during official practices and matches.

How can a sports organization improve cardiac emergency preparedness? Organizations can strengthen readiness by placing AEDs where they are easy to access, training coaches and staff, maintaining devices, documenting inspections, reviewing emergency response procedures and communicating the plan to families and participants.

As more organizations evaluate AED access, CPR and AED training, and written cardiac emergency response planning, the following questions can help frame the next steps toward practical readiness.

About Point Break Volleyball Club

Point Break Volleyball Club is a nonprofit youth volleyball organization dedicated to empowering athletes through competitive volleyball, leadership development and community involvement. Its mission is to provide a positive and inclusive environment in which young athletes can develop athletic excellence, confidence, sportsmanship and valuable life skills while fostering a lifelong love of the game.

About Play With Heart Foundation

Play With Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes. Founded by Amy Huang and Ian Dickinson, the foundation supports youth sports organizations, schools, families and underserved communities through AED donations, cardiovascular screening initiatives, CPR and AED education, advocacy and emergency preparedness programs.

About Response Ready

Response Ready helps organizations establish, manage and maintain AED and emergency response programs. Its services include AED program development, equipment selection and placement, CPR and AED training coordination, cardiac emergency response planning, compliance support, device monitoring and ongoing readiness management.

Shahin Enayati
Response Ready
+1 858-665-8444
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Play With Heart partners with Response Ready donate an AED to Point Break Volleyball Club