American Heart Association Launches Nation of Lifesavers to Double Cardiac Arrest Survival Rate

The American Heart Association launched a new storytelling initiative on June 1, 2026, featuring five compelling real-life CPR stories to kick off CPR & AED Awareness Week. The initiative aims to double the sudden cardiac arrest survival rate by turning bystanders into lifesavers through the Nation of Lifesavers program. According to the Association, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, partly because more than half do not receive immediate CPR.

The five survivors and rescuers form the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class, who will share their personal stories through media, advocate for public policies, and lead volunteer CPR training opportunities. These stories, chosen from dozens of videos submitted by survivors and rescuers nationwide, highlight the urgency of immediate action.

“Nearly 2 out of 3 people believe only those with special training should perform CPR, a mistaken belief that costs lives,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. The Association aims to change CPR from a medical skill to a shared human responsibility. The 2026 class members include Philicia Baugh, who performed CPR on a loved one during a family trip; Kristen Walenga, whose children saved her life after she collapsed; Matthew Lynch, who performed CPR on two unresponsive individuals in a car; Edward Marsh, who was revived by strangers on a dance floor; and Wallis Marsh, who saved his friend Jeff Tupper after learning CPR following his own heart attack.

Immediate CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use can double or triple survival chances. Yet less than half of cardiac arrest victims receive help from bystanders. The Association emphasizes that anyone can perform Hands-Only CPR by calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100-120 beats per minute, the tempo of “Stayin’ Alive.”

The Nation of Lifesavers initiative, with national sponsor Walgreens, aims to ensure that anyone, anywhere, is prepared to perform CPR. The Association encourages everyone to learn CPR and submit their own stories at heart.org/nation. For more information on Hands-Only CPR, visit www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.