About Us
HeartFlo is a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to improving cardiac arrest outcomes by empowering bystanders to act. Through free CPR education, expanded access to lifesaving resources like AEDs, and community-driven awareness efforts, HeartFlo works to close critical gaps in survival, especially in communities where cost and access are barriers. Founded in Gainesville, HeartFlo is aims to ensure more Floridians are prepared to respond when every second counts.
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to pump cardiac arrest care awareness, education, and resources throughout the state of Florida, with a focus on improving outcomes for communities most in need. We envision a Florida with improved cardiac arrest outcomes and fewer disparities in access to care and chance of survival.
Initiatives
HeartFlo improves cardiac arrest outcomes in Florida by delivering free CPR education, expanding access to lifesaving resources like AEDs and trained responders, and raising awareness so more people are prepared to act when every second counts.
Education
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Florida and the United States, and cardiac arrest is one of its most devastating consequences. Fewer than half of individuals who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive immediate CPR, and survival rates decrease by 7-10% for every minute without it. Early CPR is one of the most critical determinants of survival, when started immediately, bystander CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of living. We provide free CPR training in communities where cost is a barrier, helping improve bystander CPR rates in the areas that need it most.
Resources
Access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can mean the difference between life and death during a cardiac emergency. Yet many underserved communities lack these lifesaving tools. We raise funds to place AEDs in high-need areas and offer scholarships to future CPR instructors and healthcare providers to strengthen local response. By expanding both access to equipment and trained responders, we aim to improve cardiac arrest outcomes across Florida.
Awareness
Our goal is to elevate public awareness by sharing the latest research and vital statistics on cardiac arrest care, helping communities understand both the urgency and the opportunity for better outcomes. By presenting clear data and compelling facts, we highlight gaps in response times, survival rates, and access to care – especially in underserved areas. Beyond the numbers, real community engagement is key. Through public events and educational campaigns, we promote greater understanding of life-saving interventions like CPR and AED use. We want more Floridians to feel empowered to act in an emergency, knowing even small interventions can make a profound difference. Through increased knowledge and participation, we aim to turn more bystanders into lifesavers, building communities ready to respond when every second counts.
Upcoming Events
Recurring Free CPR TrainingsClasses are planned monthlyCity Church Gainesville
Our Story
My name is Brandon Climenhage, and I’m a third-year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Before medical school, I worked as an American Heart Association BLS/CPR instructor and as an EMT in a Tallahassee emergency department. Learning to respond to medical emergencies shaped my decision to become a physician – and years later, inspired the creation of HeartFlo.
Since Amy and I got married, we’ve dreamed of building something together that combines her professional experience with my medical training to serve our home community. We’ve taken the “tour of Florida” – growing up in Broward and Orlando, attending college in Gainesville, spending time in Tallahassee, and ultimately returning to Gainesville for medical school. Gainesville has now been our home for seven years.
Shortly after moving back, we came across a troubling report highlighting disparities between East and West Gainesville. Using Main Street as the dividing line, bystander CPR rates on the east side were reported at approximately half those on the west side. Publicly available AEDs showed a similar gap, with more than 240 in West Gainesville compared to 13 in East Gainesville. Although recent efforts have slightly increased this number, the disparity remains. Driven by our love for the 352, Amy and I felt called to act.
On May 8, 2025, we founded HeartFlo in Gainesville, right in the “heart” of our home state. Joined by medical students Matthew Lynch and Hayes Chatham, we provide free CPR training, raise awareness through media campaigns, and work to place life-saving AEDs where they are needed most. Our goal is simple: empower Gainesville residents to strengthen bystander response and improve cardiac arrest outcomes across Florida.
If you share this vision, we’d love to connect. Go Gators, and God Bless
— Brandon Climenhage
Founder & President, HeartFlo
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