Miss Wilmington Founds Heart Set to Place AEDs
Andi Creech is working to install life-saving automated external defibrillators in Wilmington community spaces.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Miss Wilmington Andi Creech founded the nonprofit organization Heart Set to increase the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in local public areas. The initiative follows her experience witnessing a cast member suffer a heart attack at a theater that lacked a defibrillator.
Why it matters
The project aims to improve cardiac emergency response times by ensuring that life-saving medical technology is readily accessible in public venues throughout the area. This effort directly addresses gaps in emergency preparedness that can be critical during a sudden cardiac arrest.
The Heart Set organization focuses on acquiring and installing automated external defibrillators in community spaces throughout southeastern North Carolina. This effort aims to bridge the gap in emergency medical equipment availability for public safety.
The players
Andi Creech
Andi Creech is the founder of the nonprofit organization Heart Set and currently holds the title of Miss Wilmington in the Miss America organization.
Heart Set
Heart Set is a nonprofit organization dedicated to installing automated external defibrillators in community spaces to improve cardiac safety.
The details
Andi Creech founded the organization to provide critical medical equipment after witnessing a heart attack during a theatrical production years ago. She currently manages fundraising efforts and promotes cardiovascular health and CPR education across the region through public advocacy.
Timeline
Several years ago, Andi Creech witnessed a medical emergency on stage that led to the creation of her nonprofit.
The Big Picture
This story follows a pattern set by the 2023 Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest incident, highlighting the ongoing grassroots push for widespread AED availability.
Residents may see increased accessibility to life-saving medical equipment in local public buildings and theaters. This initiative also encourages community members to pursue CPR education to improve their ability to respond to medical emergencies.
The takeaway
Sudden cardiac emergencies require immediate intervention, and the presence of an AED is often the decisive factor in survival. Local residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the location of emergency medical devices in the venues they frequent most often.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to manage cardiac health by visiting our Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wect.
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