The start of 2015 is the perfect time for businesses to assess their current automated external defibrillator (AED) preparedness.

Because of the often-unexpected nature of heart-related events, all aspects of the emergency plan and related procedures should be ready at any time.

With that in mind, here are some New Year's Resolutions that your business should be making to promote the health and safety of employees, patrons, visitors, family and friends.

An AED scavenger hunt is essentially a scavenger hunt where participants locate an AED in their area.

Some organizations even give participants a list of other items that they need to find around town or around their camp. Kids get the chance to hunt down simple and ordinary every day objects and find specialized medical equipment that can help save lives.

The Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED, is a small, portable machine that can quickly analyze the condition of the heart and deliver a quick shock to re-start a heartbeat in people who have experienced a sudden collapse. They were designed to be easy to use, even for average people.

These devices are known to save lives, but many people are unfamiliar with the technology or otherwise have fears about using it in emergency situations.