SEATTLE, May, 27, 2026 — Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anytime, anywhere, and too often people hesitate to step in because they believe CPR can only be performed by medical professionals. During CPR and AED Awareness Week, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, is working to change that misconception and empower everyday people to act when it matters most. 

According to the Association, more than two in three people in the U.S. believe only people with special training should perform CPR[1], a mistaken belief that contributes to the low survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival[2], and hesitation can cost lives. During CPR & AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, the American Heart Association is reminding families and communities, you don’t need to wear scrubs or have a medical background to save a life. You just need the courage to act. Anyone can go from bystander to lifesaver. 

That moment of courage arrived for Sara Baydo of Tacoma, Wash. in 2023 when she found her husband, Mike, unresponsive in their garage. Relying on CPR skills she learned through work, Sara began chest compressions while her son called 911, and she continued the compressions until emergency medical services arrived and took over.  Mike survived and is a reminder of how critical a response in those first few moments can be. 

Heading into summer, the Association offers this checklist for families, workplaces and other communities to take health and safety into your own hands: 

  1. Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers™. In Washington, families can watch  short videos to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults or  how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. For groups and individuals who want more comprehensive training, discover the right course with the Association’s CPR course catalog.  
  2. Lend your voice to help schools become safer. Summer is often a time for welcome disruptions, but school will be back in session in the blink of an eye. In Washington, the Association will be working in Olympia to ensure that public schools and their athletic facilities have a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP). To lend your voice to this work, join the American Heart Association’s Heart Powered advocacy network.
  3. Join a Washington Heart and Stroke Walk event. Register to walk to support the Association during a Heart and Stroke Walk event this fall via WashingtonHeartWalk.org. Every walker who joins and every dollar donated means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more lifesaving research funded and longer, healthier lives for everyone.

“Life can be unpredictable at times, and one way you can take control is by being prepared for an emergency,” said Amy Winsor, volunteer chair, 2026 Washington Heart and Stroke Walk and assistant vice president, Mary Bridge Children’s Heart Center. “Cardiac arrest doesn’t wait. It can happen to anyone at any time. When it does, that person is reliant on the people around them to be calm and ready to step in. This CPR Week, we’re reminding Washingtonians that ordinary people have the extraordinary power to save a life.”

The American Heart Association is committed to turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The long-term goal: to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.

For additional ways to raise awareness during National CPR & AED Awareness Week, visit heart.org/nation. Nation of Lifesavers is nationally sponsored by Walgreens and locally by Live Fierce, Take Action sponsor Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. The Washington Heart and Stroke Walk is supported by MultiCare Health System, Providence Health Plan and Delta Dental of Washington.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. In Washington, visit heart.org/Washington, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X.

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association

Valerie Koch, valerie.koch@heart.org

Lily Gordon, lily.gordon@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

 

[1] American Heart Association Annual CPR Perceptions Survey. Available upon request.

[2] Del Rios M, Bartos JA, Panchal AR, Atkins DL, Cabañas JG, Cao D, Dainty KN, Dezfulian C, Donoghue AJ, Drennan IR, Elmer J, Hirsch KG, Idris AH, Joyner BL, Kamath-Rayne BD, Kleinman ME, Kurz MC, Lasa JJ, Lee HC, McBride ME, Raymond TT, Rittenberger, JC, Schexnayder SM, Szyld E, Topjian A, Wigginton JG, Previdi JK. Part 1: executive summary: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2025;152(suppl):S284–S312. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001372