Episode 10

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Published on:

29th Dec 2025

Encouraging the Lifesaver in You: A Conversation with Stephanie Kornet

No matter how hard it is, no matter how much it hurts, life goes on for those who must. Every family handles tragic loss differently. Some focus on the loss, and that is understandable. Others refuse to be silent and choose to speak up, to educate others, and to push for changes that could spare another family from walking the same road. 

This episode of the SaveHeart Stories podcast focuses on a family that did the latter. Host Dave Fritzsche, founder of SaveHeart by HeartNation talks with Stephanie Kornet of the 4Alec Foundation to talk about her son Alec, a student-athlete whose life was cut short after hockey practice at just 17 years old.

The discussion explores the real-world work happening on the ground: AED placement in schools and community spaces, partnerships with organizations like Parent Heart Watch, and the impact of Ohio’s House Bill 47, requiring emergency action plans and AED access in places where kids play. 

Stephanie also speaks candidly about awareness gaps, such as how often parents assume “this won’t happen to us,” and why education and confidence to act matter just as much as equipment.

Takeaways

-Sudden cardiac arrest often shows no warning signs, even in healthy student-athletes

-CPR training and AED awareness empower everyday people to act, not panic

-Ohio’s House Bill 47 is a start, but compliance and follow-through matter

-Schools, rec centers, and youth sports facilities play a critical role in preparedness

-Sharing personal stories helps break the “this won’t happen to us” mindset

-Grassroots foundations rely heavily on partnerships and community support

-Awareness without confidence still leaves gaps—education must lead to action

-Small steps taken locally can ripple outward and save lives


Chapters

00:16 Introduction:

01:02 About Alec Kornet

03:11 Mission of 4Alec Foundation

08:06 Focus on Awareness, CPR Training and AED Placements

10:27 Partnerships for Effectiveness

13:19 Learn more/Contact Stephanie

14:58 Meant To Be

16:38 Closing Thoughts


Helpful Links:  

Stephanie Kornet, 4Alec Foundation: www.4Alec.org

Dave Fritzsche at SaveHeart by HeartNation: https://saveheart.life/

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About the Podcast

SaveHeart Stories
Real-life stories of sudden cardiac arrest and the need to place AEDs everywhere people gather- indoors and outside. Because one life lost is too many, these stories matter.
Real Life stories of lives saved, lost, and changed saved due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)- the largest cause of natural death in the United States. The SaveHeart Stories podcast sheds light on how to drastically improve SCA survival rates by placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) everywhere people live, work, and play, training more people in basic CPR & AED use, and promoting youth heart screenings to uncover potential heart defects in teenagers.

Every year in the U.S., out-of-hospital SCA claims the lives of 356,000 people, including more than 23,000 teenagers. SCA strikes without warning and affects people from every walk of life, regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, or even health profile. While Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is essential to help blood flow to vital organs after an SCA event, the only real cure for SCA is an electrical shock from an AED, which the American Heart Association recommends should happen within 3 minutes. Sadly, today, less than 10% of SCA victims survive, largely because AEDs aren’t located close enough to where people are.

There is an increasing number of stories in the media about how having an AED saved a precious life, or worse, how not having an AED nearby resulted in a tragic and unnecessary death. SaveHeart Stories should inspire us to do something about it now- individually, and together- so that our stories can change from sadness to celebration- and from tragedy to triumph.

SaveHeart Stories is brought to you by your host, Dave Fritzsche, AED industry veteran and founder of SaveHeart by HeartNation. Proudly ‘Made in the USA,’ SaveHeart’s highly visible, alarmed, lighted, temperature-controlled and 24x7 monitored outdoor cabinets provide immediate visibility & access to lifesaving AEDs, Stop the Bleed Kits, Narcan, and other emergency supplies. They are ideal for parks, athletic fields & courts, trails, schools & universities, business districts, marinas, beaches, and any outdoor locations where people congregate.

To learn more about how Outdoor AEDs can keep your community safer, call 312-953-6928 or email dave@saveheart.life.

About your host

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Dave Fritzsche

Dave Fritzsche has been in the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) industry for over 25 years
This includes 2 stints at AED manufacturer Defibtech- as initial investor, VP of Sales & Marketing, VP of Business Development, and Executive Committee Member. Working with truly innovative products and an outstanding team, Dave helped take Defibtech from unknown AED start-up to a major industry player. In 2007, Defibtech was named as the fastest growing medical device company in the U.S. by Deloitte & Touche and was acquired in 2012 by Nihon Kohden Corporation. In 2016, Dave helped launch the Lifeline ARM automated CPR device.

In 2006, Dave was diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an abnormal EKG
Fortunately, annual check-ups have not shown an increased thickening of his heart muscle over time. Still, his diagnosis and experience is the reason behind SaveHeart’s support of several not-for-profit organizations focused on enabling greater AED access and increased SCA awareness and prevention. This includes many local organizations founded by parents who have lost a child to SCA, as well as various heart screening organizations that help detect heart defects & abnormalities in teenagers. He considers himself lucky to work with and support such incredible people & organizations who share a mission to promote greater AED access, enhanced heart screening efforts and breakthrough monitoring technology to help eliminate unnecessary SCA deaths.