SAN ANTONIO, August 14, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in San Antonio, Oscar Garza, Division Leader Vice President at Southland Industries, will chair the 2026 San Antonio Heart and Stroke Walk, leading a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education.

Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to make CPR education and training more accessible. In San Antonio, this year’s goal is to raise $1 million for vital research and drive equitable health for all.

This is the largest goal to date for the San Antonio Heart and Stroke Walk, and under Garza’s leadership, top executives in San Antonio will work to recruit organizations and individuals to the campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.

“The reality of losing employees to heart disease has reinforced my belief that preparedness saves lives,” Garza said. “By joining Heart Walk, San Antonio employers can help ensure that when it matters most, their employees are prepared to act during a cardiac emergency.”

According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people — or approximately 103 million U.S. adults — now feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That’s roughly 17.7 million more adults who are highly confident in their ability to conduct CPR, yet 61% still lack high confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby knows what to do,” said James Anderson, American Heart Association – San Antonio board chair. "Garza’s commitment to building a healthier and safer San Antonio demonstrates why he is the right leader for this role. We look forward to the impact of this year's Heart Walk campaign and encourage the community to join us in supporting this important effort.”

The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.

The San Antonio Heart and Stroke Walk will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 at Northeast Lakeview College. An estimated 5,000 participants are expected to walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made in San Antonio. Companies interested in participating can contact sanantonioheartwalk@heart.org. Learn more and register at sanantonioheartwalk.org.

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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.

 

For Media Inquiries:

Reyna Caraveo: reyna.caraveo@heart.org

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

heart.org and stroke.org