Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race Deploys Mobile AED Fleet

Northside Hospital is integrating the lightweight, 2.1-pound defibrillators into the race’s emergency infrastructure to supplement existing first responder teams. By positioning two AED-equipped runners in every wave, organizers ensure that life-saving technology is within minutes of any participant from the start at Lenox Square to the finish at Piedmont Park. The devices feature real-time CPR guidance and direct 911 integration to streamline bystander intervention.

This deployment marks the first year of Northside Hospital’s title partnership with the event, which now draws 56,000 participants. According to Jason Grady, system manager of Emergency Cardiac Care at the Northside Hospital Heart Institute, the program serves as a proof-of-concept for how community-focused technology can transform large-scale athletic events. Race director Rich Kenah noted that the model is designed to be scalable, potentially setting a new standard for safety protocols at endurance races nationwide.