On a quiet evening in July 2025, a Forsyth County resident collapsed in his neighborhood after suffering sudden cardiac arrest.
Within moments, the emergency response system began moving into action, not just through traditional first responders, but through a new layer of community support designed to help during those critical first minutes.
Through the 4 Minute Community Program, nearby automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are connected to a network that can alert Cardiac Arrest Rapid Engagement (CARE) Team members, who are trained citizen volunteers, when someone close by may need lifesaving assistance. That evening, the alert reached a CARE Team member who lived just a block away.
“The CARE Team member was inside his house, minding his own and his family’s business, enjoying an evening to themselves,” said Jason Shivers, Technical Services Division Chief for the Forsyth County Fire Department. “He would have never known a neighbor needed help, but he was able to assist because of the technology that’s embedded in the 4 Minute Community.”
Following the instructions provided through the system, the responder arrived with an AED and delivered a lifesaving shock before emergency crews reached the scene.
The moment captured exactly what the program was designed to do: bridge the crucial gap between the onset of cardiac arrest and the arrival of emergency services.
“To say that it’s going to be a game changer to how we handle sudden cardiac arrest in the community is an understatement,” Shivers said.
The program itself is the result of a partnership between the Forsyth County Fire Department, Northside Hospital Forsyth and Avive, a company that develops connected AED technology. Forsyth County was selected as one of only three communities nationwide to pilot the initiative.
While the technology plays an important role, Shivers believes the program ultimately succeeds because of the “magic of people” who choose to help others in their community.
“AEDs are only as good as the people who are willing to grab them off the wall and actually use them,” he said. “Like a fire extinguisher, if someone’s not willing to grab that fire extinguisher and attempt to put out a fire, the fire is going to grow and become dangerous and endanger lives.”
For decades, emergency cardiac care has followed a well-established process: someone calls 911, a telecommunicator provides instructions, emergency responders arrive on scene, and the patient is transported to the hospital for further care.
The 4 Minute Community program adds another step to that chain of response.
“That process has been part of the common understanding of how that care works for decades,” Shivers said. “But now, with the 4 Minute Community, we’re essentially adding another component there. This new piece allows for rapid intervention by somebody nearby that can get an AED on a patient before the arrival of emergency services.”
Forsyth County’s participation in the program reflects a long tradition of collaboration between public safety, healthcare providers and the community itself.
“Without fail, Forsyth County has always fascinated me with how we are such a close-knit community, yet we’re growing,” Shivers said. “I’m honored to be a part of it. I’m honored to work here, and for all my entire career, the closeness of the county residents, business owners and leadership has been very evident.”
Today, approximately 300 connected AEDs are located throughout the county, with plans to continue expanding the network and recruiting additional CARE Team volunteers.
Residents who are interested in becoming part of that network can volunteer as CARE Team members. The program is designed for individuals who already feel comfortable assisting in emergency situations, whether through backgrounds in healthcare, education, military service, coaching or other community roles, but anyone willing to learn and step forward to help a neighbor in need is encouraged to participate.
As the county continues expanding the network of connected AEDs, additional volunteers will help strengthen the program’s reach across neighborhoods and communities.
For Shivers, the program represents a shared commitment to helping others, with the long-term vision reaching far beyond Forsyth County.
“Imagine a meshed network of AEDs across the nation and how wonderful that would be to see that many AEDs in the hands of people that care, and how many lives could be touched and saved from sudden cardiac arrest. That’s the dream,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
And in Forsyth County, that vision is already taking shape, one neighbor, one partnership and one lifesaving moment at a time.
Take a look at the Forsyth County 2025 Annual Report for more! Check out the past year's stats and accomplishments, meet the people who serve our community and learn about the projects in progress around the county.