IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, approximately 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year — most often outside a hospital. Bystander CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, yet fewer than half receive it, highlighting a critical gap in community preparedness. To support the Association’s efforts to enhance CPR readiness and build a community of lifesavers in Orange County, more than 8,000 people gathered at the Orange County Heart and Stroke Walk on April 11 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, raising over $580,000 and learning lifesaving CPR skills.

This year's Orange County Heart and Stroke Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from 87 local companies and other community members to learn the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR, celebrate local survivors and support the mission of the Association.

"In a heartbeat, you could be the difference," said Tim Schaefer, American Heart Association volunteer chair of the Orange County Heart and Stroke Walk and Director of Preconstruction, Technology Division at Rosendin. "By equipping more people with the skills needed to save a life, we're working toward creating a culture where every home has someone confident and prepared to respond when it matters most. That's extraordinary."

This year's top fundraising companies included Rosendin Electric, McCarthy Building Companies, UCI Health and Medtronic.

"Our team is proud to support this important mission," said Schaefer. "Knowing that the dollars we raised will help train more people in CPR and support research that saves lives makes us feel like we are truly making a difference in our community, and we're grateful to be part of something so meaningful."

According to the Association's 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of respondents report feeling "extremely confident" or "very confident" when asked about their ability to perform CPR — an increase from 33% in 2021, which equates to approximately 17.7 million more adults highly confident in their CPR skills. However, 61% of respondents still do not report high levels of confidence to act during a cardiac emergency, underscoring the critical need for continued CPR training and awareness.

Heart Walk is the Association’s largest community-facing initiative, reaching more than 10 million people nationwide each year. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to enhance CPR training accessibility, bolster bystander preparedness, increase funding for cardiovascular research and drive equitable health for all people.

The Orange County Heart and Stroke Walk is locally sponsored by McCarthy Building Companies and Rosendin Electric. To learn Hands-Only CPR, donate or register for future Heart Walk events, visit OCHeartWalk.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:

Daniel Ruacho daniel.ruacho@heart.org

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

heart.org and stroke.org