At Community Lending of America, we believe a healthy community is built on care and preparedness. This month, our Community Minute spotlight is on 13BEATS, a local nonprofit dedicated to a single, critical mission: ensuring every Kansas City resident is prepared to save a life through bystander CPR and AED awareness.
We recently spoke with Ashley Dwight, co-founder of 13BEATS, to hear the deeply personal story that fuels their life-saving work.
The Story of 13 Minutes
The founding of 13BEATS is rooted in a single life-altering event. On August 3rd, 2022, Ashley’s 17-year-old son collapsed during a baseball lesson, suffering sudden cardiac arrest. There were no prior health warnings, and no explanation for the collapse.
What happened next changed everything. Two coaches immediately performed bystander CPR for approximately 13 minutes. As Ashley shared, those two men provided a truly miraculous service.
“We didn’t know for about 24 hours if he’d survive or have any brain activity… and these two men provided a miracle because they hit their knees quickly and they did it effectively and efficiently. Because of that, our son survived today.”
In the hospital, the family was told that bystander CPR was the reason their son survived. It is a simple, life-saving act that anyone can learn. This powerful lesson became the founding principle of 13BEATS.
The Call to Action: Be Prepared to Save a Life
13BEATS is not here to ask for much. They’re here to encourage action by making sure everyone in the Kansas City area is prepared to save a life.
Here are two ways 13BEATS is making a local impact:
1. Free CPR Training for Everyone
Ashley emphasized that CPR is easy, and anyone can learn it, whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or a student. To eliminate barriers, 13BEATS partners with local organizations like the Kansas City Current and the Royals to host community events.
The best part? 13BEATS hosts free bystander CPR training events that only take 10 minutes to complete. You can get updates and find dates for upcoming events by following their social channels (details below).
2. Promoting AED Awareness
While CPR keeps the blood flowing, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is often the device needed to save a life. Unfortunately, AEDs are not as common as they should be.
“They were not at the facility where our son collapsed, and he needed that to survive… Our goal is to make sure the whole Kansas City community is prepared to save a life and know what an AED is. We promote putting AEDs everywhere.”
13BEATS is actively educating the public on how to find and use these critical life-saving devices, working to ensure they are present in all community spaces.
How You Can Help
You can step up to be a resource for your family and community. We encourage you to seek out this essential training.
- Learn: Follow 13BEATS and find their next free, 10-minute training event.
- Share: Help 13BEATS get the word out by sharing their message on social media.
Follow and Connect with 13BEATS:
Thank you, Ashley, and the entire 13BEATS organization, for turning a traumatic event into a powerful mission to protect the lives in our Kansas City community.