CPR education expands to Northwest Arctic and Southeast Alaska communities

Anchorage, Alaska, May 27, 2026 – Residents in the Northwest Arctic and Southeast regions of Alaska now have access to resources to learn lifesaving CPR skills. As part of its ongoing commitment to building a Nation of Lifesavers™, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, recently donated eight additional CPR & First Aid Anywhere Training Kits to these communities, expanding access to Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) education in rural Alaska.  

Eleven CPR & First Aid Anywhere Training Kits are available to the Northwest Arctic Borough School District to support CPR education in Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Shungnak and Selawik. And five kits were delivered to the Southeast Island School District covering the communities of Coffman Cove, Hollis, Naukati, Port Alexander and Whale Pass.  

“When you live in remote Alaska, it can often take a long time to get specialized care in a cardiac arrest emergency, so knowing CPR is essential for helping someone survive until additional help arrives,” said Travis Cruse, American Heart Association volunteer and vice president of clinical service at LifeMed Alaska.  

According to the American Heart Association data, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. [1]. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. [2] 

This latest donation brings the total number of donated CPR kits in rural Alaska to 54. By 2030, the American Heart Association in Alaska aims to donate one CPR & First Aid Anywhere Training Kit to more than 200 rural Alaskan communities so residents can practice their skills and teach others about Hands-Only CPR and AED use. This multi-year initiative in Alaska started in 2024 and is locally sponsored by Alaska Airlines, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Chugach Alaska Corp., the Judy Foss Foundation and LifeMed Alaska.  

Additional resources: 

[1] Association of Bystander and First‐Responder Efforts and Outcomes According to Sex: Results From the North Carolina HeartRescue Statewide Quality Improvement Initiative | Journal of the American Heart Association 

[2] Demographics and Trends of Sudden Cardiac Death‐Related Mortality in the United States, 1999 to 2022 | Journal of the American Heart Association  

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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, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. In Alaska, connect with us on heart.org/Alaska, Facebook, Instagram or X.