From the Hive
BeeReady Blog
Stories, updates, and lifesaving moments from the sidelines.
Explore our AED guide for sports facilities
Cardiac risk in young athletes
- July 3, 2026Start hereWhat Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young AthletesSudden cardiac arrest can strike a seemingly healthy young athlete without warning. Here is what it is, how it differs from a heart attack, the warning signs to watch for, and how to prevent and prepare for it.
- July 15, 2026What Damar Hamlin Taught Youth Sports About Sideline ReadinessThe fast, practiced response that saved NFL player Damar Hamlin after his 2023 cardiac arrest carries a direct lesson for youth sports. Every field needs a written emergency action plan, an accessible AED, and bystanders trained in CPR, and here is how your league can build that readiness.
- July 13, 2026The Chain of Survival: The First 10 Minutes of Cardiac ArrestThe American Heart Association Chain of Survival is the set of steps that decide whether someone survives cardiac arrest. Here is what each link means and why, on a youth sports sideline, the first and most important links belong to the coaches and parents already there.
- July 12, 2026Warning Signs of Heart Trouble in Young Athletes Every Parent Should KnowMany young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest had subtle warning signs that were missed. Here are the red flags every parent and coach should take seriously, from fainting during exercise to a family history of sudden death, and what to do about them.
- July 11, 2026How to Build an Emergency Action Plan for Your Youth Sports TeamA youth sports field is often minutes from the nearest ambulance, so the first response has to come from the sideline. Here is a practical, adopt-this-week checklist for building a venue emergency action plan that assigns roles, locates the AED, and gets CPR started fast.
- July 10, 2026Commotio Cordis: The Hidden Cardiac Risk in Youth SportsCommotio cordis is sudden cardiac arrest caused by a blow to the chest at a vulnerable instant in the heartbeat, and it is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Here is what it is, which sports carry the risk, and why fast CPR and an AED save lives.
AEDs
- July 2, 2026Start hereHow to Use an AED: A Step by Step GuideModern AEDs are designed for anyone to use. A step by step guide for coaches, parents, and bystanders: when to use an AED, how to place the pads, and what to expect when it matters most.
- July 14, 2026AED Maintenance 101: Keeping Your Device Ready to Save a LifeAn AED only saves a life if it is ready the moment someone reaches for it. Here is a simple, repeatable maintenance routine any school, league, or facility can run, from the monthly readiness check to tracking pad and battery expiration dates.
- July 9, 2026Real Saves: Young Athletes Rescued by an AED and Fast CPRReal young athletes have survived sudden cardiac arrest because bystanders started CPR at once and an AED was within reach. Here are their stories, and why every youth sports field needs an AED and people trained in American Heart Association CPR.
- July 5, 2026AEDs in Athletics: Defibrillators for Sports Facilities and StadiumsEvery athletic program should have an AED within reach. A guide for athletic directors and facility managers on choosing defibrillators, how many AED units a sports facility or stadium needs, and where to place them.
Getting CPR certified
- July 6, 2026Start hereWhere to Find Free CPR ClassesFree and low-cost CPR training is more available than most people think. Here is an honest roundup of where to find free CPR classes near you, from fire departments and hospitals to the American Heart Association and Red Cross, plus how BeeReady brings free training to youth sports.
- July 16, 2026CPR and First Aid Training in Durham NCA local guide to CPR and first aid training in Durham NC and across the Triangle. Learn where to find classes, from hospital and county programs to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross locators, and how BeeReady brings free training to youth sporting events.
- July 8, 2026CPR Certification Renewal: When and How to RenewAmerican Heart Association CPR certifications are valid for two years, and skills fade long before that. Here is when and how to renew your CPR certification, from checking your expiration date to instructor-led and blended learning options, plus tips for keeping your skills fresh between classes.
- July 5, 2026Hands Only CPR vs Full CPR CertificationHands-only CPR is the continuous chest compressions any untrained bystander can do when a teen or adult suddenly collapses. Here is when it is the right call, when rescue breaths still matter, and how it differs from the full American Red Cross CPR, AED, and BLS certification BeeReady brings to youth sports sidelines.
- July 4, 2026How Old Do You Have to Be to Get CPR CertifiedThe American Heart Association sets no minimum age for CPR certification; passing depends on demonstrating the skills on a manikin, not on how old you are. Here is what children can master at each age, why compression strength matters, and how families can train together.
- June 18, 2026What Basic Life Support Training Covers for Young AthletesOur volunteers train in American Red Cross Basic Life Support. Here is what BLS covers, how it differs from a quick CPR refresher, and why it matters on the sideline.
Teaching kids CPR
- June 25, 2026Start hereCPR for Kids and How to Teach ItCan kids learn CPR? Absolutely. A guide for parents and coaches on teaching children CPR and AED basics, and how child CPR differs from adult CPR.
- July 7, 2026How to Do Infant CPRMany youth sports families also have a baby at home. Learn how infant CPR for babies under one year differs from child and adult CPR, from checking responsiveness to compressions and rescue breaths, and why a certified infant CPR class is the best way to be ready.
BeeReady news
- July 27, 2026We Now Teach American Red Cross CPR and AED TrainingBeeReady now teaches American Red Cross CPR and AED for a requested $50 donation per person. We can officially train people ourselves, and we bring that training to youth sports sidelines.
- July 20, 2026We Earned a Candid Seal of TransparencyOur nonprofit profile is live on Candid, and BeeReady has earned a Silver Seal of Transparency. Anyone deciding whether to trust us with a donation can now check our mission, leadership, programs, and finances in one independent place.
- July 17, 2026We Are Officially a 501c3 NonprofitOur IRS determination letter arrived: BeeReady is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible, and every gift moves another AED closer to a sideline.
- June 6, 2026Our First Week on the SidelinesOur very first week live: three swim practices, two AEDs placed with our founding families, and a kid-run booth that raised $68 at this morning's swim meet.
