Gothenburg, Sweden
Hjärtuppropet Brings a Defibrillator to the Heart of Gothenburg
In the heart of Gothenburg, a new Rotaid 24/7 AED cabinet has been installed at one of the city's busiest public squares. The initiative was led by Hjärtuppropet, Sweden's national heart-safety campaign, together with Innerstaden Göteborg, the city centre association. The AED cabinet now stands at Brunnsparken, giving thousands of daily commuters and visitors access to a life-saving device at any hour.
Jenny Schmidt
“Brunnsparken is one of the most transit-heavy spots in Sweden.”
A heart-safe moment at the centre of Sweden's second city
Sudden cardiac arrest strikes without warning, and survival depends almost entirely on the speed of the response. Every minute without defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to ten percent. Public spaces with high foot traffic like squares, stations, shopping areas are precisely where accessible AEDs make the greatest difference. Brunnsparken, at the centre of Gothenburg's public transport network and among the most transit-heavy locations in all of Sweden, is one such place.
On 2 June 2026, the Blomsterhjärtat 2026 inauguration at Brunnsparken became the occasion for a meaningful step forward in urban heart safety. Hjärtuppropet donated a defibrillator to Innerstaden Göteborg, the association representing more than 560 businesses in the city's inner districts. The AED cabinet was mounted on the façade of Viktors Kaffe, an outdoor café directly on the square, giving it maximum visibility and around-the-clock accessibility. In a gesture of personal significance, the cabinet was named Bertil, in memory of the father of the café's owners and in tribute to cardiologist Bertil Wennerblom.
The inauguration was attended by Thomas Ravelli, former Swedish national goalkeeper and ambassador for Hjärtuppropet, whose involvement brought public attention to the importance of AED accessibility in everyday city life. Students from Rytmus performed live music during the ceremony, while Viktors Kaffe served coffee and refreshments on its terrace.
The Rotaid 24/7 cabinet at Brunnsparken is built for permanent outdoor installation. Weatherproof and monitored around the clock via Rotaid Smart Services, it ensures the AED inside is always ready and accessible, whether at rush hour on a Tuesday morning or late on a summer evening. For a location that never sleeps, it is exactly the right solution.
The wider context for this installation is the Blomsterhjärtat project, an annual summer initiative by Innerstaden Göteborg that combines floral decoration with civic messaging. This year's edition, created by florist Bellis Växtmiljö and funded by Göteborg & Co alongside property owners Vasakronan, Balder, Hufvudstaden and Wallenstam, placed heart safety at the centre of its theme. The AED cabinet at Viktors Kaffe will remain in place long after the flowers are gone, as a permanent addition to Gothenburg's public safety infrastructure.
