The Tuskegee Area Heath Education Center in conjunction with the Black Belt Medical Reserve Corps (BBMRC) provides life-saving CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training to local churches, businesses, and municipalities through a grant program called Rural Access to Emergency Devices. The purpose of the Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED)  Program is to (1) purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that have been approved, or cleared for marketing, by the Food and Drug Administration; (2) provide defibrillator and basic life support training along with automated external defibrillator usage through the American Heart Association, or other nationally recognized training courses, and (3) place the AEDs in rural communities with local organizations.

Through this program the BBMRC is able to provide the training at no charge and also to award AEDs to each organization upon completion of the training. Each individual trained will receive certification in CPR and AED use. This program brings one step closer to ensuring that Macon County is a little more prepared for unexpected or emergency events. The training and AED award is available to all interested businesses and organizations throughout  Macon and Bullock Counties.