Contact: Miranda Renner
260-420-6500
pio@traa-ems.com
For Immediate Release:
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority
Donates AED’s to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Fort Wayne, Indiana — September 15, 2026 — The Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA) has donated five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo as part of TRAA’s integration with the National Emergency AED and Resource (NEAR) Registry, a community initiative designed to connect bystanders, 9-1-1 telecommunicators and lifesaving equipment before first responders arrive.
The five AEDs will be strategically placed throughout the Zoo, expanding access to lifesaving equipment for guests, staff and volunteers across the campus. The devices will also be registered through NEAR, joining the Zoo’s existing registered AEDs and expanding Fort Wayne’s network of publicly accessible lifesaving resources.
“We are incredibly grateful to TRAA for their generous donation of five AEDs to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo,” said Rick Schuiteman, Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. “The safety and well-being of our guests, staff and volunteers is always a top priority, and this gift significantly strengthens our ability to respond to medical emergencies across our campus. By helping ensure lifesaving equipment is readily accessible when every second counts, TRAA is making a meaningful investment in the thousands of families who visit the Zoo each year.”
Sasha Keislyov, Safety & Security Manager for the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, emphasized the importance of having AEDs strategically located throughout the facility.
“Having AEDs strategically placed throughout the Zoo is critical to providing a rapid response during cardiac emergencies,” Keislyov said. “Thanks to TRAA’s generous donation, our team will have greater access to lifesaving equipment across campus, allowing us to enhance emergency preparedness and better protect our guests, staff, volunteers and animals. This donation will make a lasting difference in our ability to respond when moments matter most.”
The donation is part of TRAA’s broader effort to strengthen the community’s ability to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Through NEAR, publicly available AEDs can be registered and displayed on a map within the mobile app, helping community members identify the location of nearby lifesaving equipment during a cardiac emergency.
NEAR locations are also integrated into TRAA’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. When a cardiac emergency occurs, this connection can help 9-1-1 telecommunicators and first responders identify nearby AED resources while also encouraging community members to take action.
“This donation to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is about more than placing AEDs on walls,” said Savanna Fettig, Communications Manager for TRAA. “It is about making sure lifesaving equipment is available, known and accessible when it is needed most. These new AEDs will be registered through NEAR, joining the Zoo’s existing registered devices and expanding Fort Wayne’s network of lifesaving resources. Every AED added to NEAR helps strengthen our community’s response when seconds matter.”
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning, and survival can depend on how quickly CPR is started and an AED is used. Early bystander CPR and rapid defibrillation are important components of the community response to sudden cardiac arrest.
TRAA believes connecting people with lifesaving education, technology and resources can help strengthen Fort Wayne’s response to cardiac emergencies.
Community members and businesses with publicly accessible AEDs are encouraged to register their devices with NEAR. For more information or to register an AED, visit www.traa-ems.com.
About Three Rivers Ambulance Authority
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA) provides emergency medical services to the Fort Wayne and Allen County community. TRAA is committed to providing high-quality emergency medical care while working with community partners to improve public safety, emergency preparedness and access to lifesaving resources.
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