“It came very much out of the blue.” 

That’s how Kris, president of Arrowhead AED Inc., describes the start of a project that has gained momentum across Cook County. The idea began with a close call. A local woman’s 27-year-old son went into sudden cardiac arrest while playing pickleball in the Twin Cities. He survived because an outdoor AED was nearby—something his girlfriend had seen on the facility’s website and was able to grab immediately. 

“She ran and grabbed it, and it saved his life,” Kris said. “He would not have been here because the ambulance could not have gotten to him in enough time.” 

That moment made the problem obvious: access. AEDs work—but only if they’re available when and where they’re needed. From there, the goal was simple—raise money to install an outdoor AED locally. But the way it came together was anything but typical.

At the same time, Kris and her team at Lake Superior Trading Post were preparing for a Flyshacker promotion. Flyshacker, a flannel brand that the store carries through an existing vendor relationship, had become a fun in-store focus, complete with homemade commercials and a planned MEA weekend event. 

“We were going to have just a Flyshacker ordeal outside,” Kris said. 

Instead, they pivoted. Kris reached out to Flyshacker, a Washington-based company run by a husband-and-wife team, and proposed turning the event into a fundraiser. The response was immediate. 

“They were all on board with this and loved being a sponsor,” she said. 

Flyshacker and the Trading Post worked together to make it happen—discounting shirts and donating $5 from every sale to the cause. What started as a retail event became the foundation for Arrowhead AED.

Since then, the effort has grown quickly. The group has raised over $27,000, funding multiple AED units for the community. But the mission goes beyond fundraising. Arrowhead AED is focused on installing outdoor, climate-controlled AEDs—units that are accessible 24/7, even in extreme northern conditions. 

“Everyone’s got AEDs inside buildings. Great—but they close,” Kris said. “Heart attacks happen anytime.”

These outdoor units are designed to stay operational year-round and are equipped with smart features, including automatic 911 alerts when accessed. 

“You’re not sitting there trying to save someone’s life and call 911,” she said. “It does it for you.” In rural areas like Cook County, that kind of access can be critical. 

Emergency crews aren’t always immediately available, and response times can vary.

Even with strong community support, getting AEDs installed hasn’t been simple. The process has involved city and county approvals, site debates, and more logistics than expected. 

“I thought I was going to just raise some money and—here—buy some AEDs,” Kris said. “This has become such a project… well worth it, but so much more to it than I ever imagined.”

Still, the work is moving forward. In-progress projects include a wall-mounted AED near the Cook County Community Center and a freestanding tower unit awaiting final approval.

To keep momentum going, Arrowhead AED is hosting the Slobber Dobber Cookoff on April 11th from 5-8 pm at Up Yonder. The event puts a twist on the traditional cookoff format. 

“There’s always a chili cookoff… I just wanted something different,” Kris said. “Basically, anything sloppy on a bun—I don’t care what it is. Just make it fun.” 

The event will include tastings, raffles, and a public opportunity to learn how AEDs work. A representative will also be on-site to answer questions and help people feel more comfortable using the devices. For those who want to participate, entry into the cookoff is $25. Participants can sign up by emailing Kris directly at [email protected]. To attend the event, it’s $10 per person or $35 per family of four.

Image: Arrowhead AED, Inc.  

Beyond the event, education remains a key focus. While AEDs are designed to be simple and deliver a shock only when necessary, hesitation is still common. 

“People are kind of freaked out… what if I do something wrong?” Kris said. “The machines know if you need to be shocked or not.” 

Looking ahead, Arrowhead AED hopes to expand beyond Cook County and support other communities looking to install outdoor units. For Kris and the team behind the project, the mission is grounded in one reality: the difference between life and death can come down to whether an AED is within reach. 

“We just want to help anybody who wants to put in an outdoor AED,” she said.