Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 21, 2024 – On National Rural Health Day, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, announced a multi-year effort to bring Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills to rural communities across Alaska. The initiative aims to increase the number of people who are prepared and empowered to respond if they see someone in cardiac arrest, going from bystander to lifesaver.
Most remote villages in Alaska are detached from the state's road system[1], meaning it can take a long time for medical help to arrive in an emergency. If someone experiences cardiac arrest, survival hinges on someone nearby immediately and correctly starting chest compressions and using an AED, but many do not know how to perform CPR nor where an AED is located.
To help change this, the American Heart Association in Alaska, in collaboration with local community leaders and certified LifeMed Alaska trainers, is bringing its science-backed CPR Anytime® Training Kits to remote communities across the state. By 2030, the American Heart Association aims to visit more than 200 rural Alaskan villages. Each visit will include a Hands-Only CPR and AED skills session led by a LifeMed Alaska expert. One CPR Anytime® Training Kit will be left in each village so residents can practice their skills and teach others about Hands-Only CPR and AEDs.
“Imagine you’re in a remote village here in Alaska. Even in the best weather conditions, due to the sheer geography of our state it can take a long time for specialized medical help to reach you in a cardiac arrest emergency,” said Kristin George, executive director, American Heart Association, Alaska. “That’s why it’s critical for everyone in every village to learn these lifesaving skills. You hope you’ll never need them, but they can be the difference between life and death for someone you love.”
Each year in the U.S., more than 350,000 people, including 23,000 children, experience cardiac arrests outside of a hospital. Unfortunately, 90% of these individuals do not survive[2]. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival and children as young as 9 years old can learn to perform it.
In October, the American Heart Association and LifeMed Alaska embarked on an initial round of visits to bring Hands-Only CPR and AED skills to rural communities in the Norton Sound region, including St. Michael (pop. 300), Wales (pop. 294) and Shishmaref (pop. 568). More visits across multiple regions in the state are planned for the coming months and years, giving more Alaskans the opportunity to learn Hands-Only CPR and join the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™.
The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official guidelines for CPR. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™, the Association has set a goal of doubling the survival of cardiac arrest by 2030. The rural Alaska effort is sponsored by the Foss Family Foundation and LifeMed Alaska.
Additional resources:
- Fact sheet: Hands-Only CPR
- Infographic: Hands-Only CPR vs. CPR with breaths
- Infographic: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
- Video: Hands-Only CPR
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with the American Heart Association in Alaska on heart.org/Alaska, Facebook, Instagram, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For media inquiries:
Lily Gordon, lily.gordon@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
Heart.org and stroke.org
[2] Hansen, C. M., et al. (2018). Association of Bystander and First‐Responder Efforts and Outcomes According to Sex. Journal of the American Heart Association, 7(18), e009873. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.009873