This week’s speakers, Captain James Ellis and April West of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, will discuss public access automated external defibrillators (AEDs), CPR education and the Citizen Responder Project, an initiative designed to improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest by connecting trained community members and readily accessible AEDs with cardiac emergencies. We will also honor the Student of the Quarter from Pleasant Grove Middle School.
James has been in the fire service since 1997, beginning his career in Weed, California, and serving with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, now Cal Fire. He has served in Sacramento County since 2004 and has been a fire captain since 2015. He currently works in the EMS Division, focusing on new paramedic training and operations, and helped launch Sac Metro’s heart-safe community initiative, the Citizen Responder Project.
He and his wife of 22 years, Cortleigh, live in Placerville and have four children. James enjoys coaching competitive soccer, long-distance running and traveling with his family.
April West works in communications and community engagement with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, helping advance the Citizen Responder Project through hands-only CPR education, public access AED awareness and community partnerships. Her background includes communications, community engagement and event planning in public safety, parks and recreation, and healthcare.
April lives in Cameron Park with her husband, Ryan, and their children, where they enjoy soccer, trips to Lake Tahoe and supporting their favorite nonprofits.
James and April are working on an initiative to place public access AEDs in parks and provide hands-on CPR education within the community. They will discuss the importance of having lifesaving equipment readily available when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest and share examples of other Rotary clubs in the Sacramento area that have helped install public access AEDs.
The speakers will also discuss Nevaeh’s Safety Sports Act, which takes effect January 1, 2028, and will require AEDs to be available at youth sporting events and practices.
The issue recently hit close to home following a cardiac emergency at Lions Park in Placerville, where an AED has not yet been installed.
Join us October 8 to learn more about creating heart-safe communities and how greater access to AEDs and CPR education can help save lives.