Chicago Health Leader's Campaign Expands CPR and Blood Pressure Monitoring Access

Laura Merrick, winner of the American Heart Association’s 2025 national Leaders of Impact campaign, has directed over $380,000 in raised funds toward initiatives aimed at reducing fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest and high blood pressure in Chicago. Her motivation stemmed from her mother's survival of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an event where, nationally, 90% of cases are fatal according to the 2023 American Heart Association Stats Update. Merrick's campaign focuses on strengthening community readiness through practical, accessible health resources.

A central component involves placing blood pressure hubs in 18 community-based organizations throughout Chicagoland. These hubs, implemented through the American Heart Association's Embracing Community Care initiative, will provide free blood pressure monitors, guided materials on proper self-measurement, interpretation of results, and local medical provider contacts. An automated self-measurement blood pressure kiosk will also be installed in Chicago to educate community members on monitoring and controlling hypertension, a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Concurrently, the campaign is enabling the same 18 organizations to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans. These plans include providing CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training for staff, volunteers, and designated community response team members. This effort aligns with the American Heart Association's broader mission to educate millions in CPR, equipping bystanders with lifesaving skills. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, as noted in Heart and Stroke Association Statistics.

Merrick emphasized a goal of making lifesaving preparedness a standard across Chicago, particularly in historically underserved communities. The Leaders of Impact campaign, which ran from September 18 to November 5, 2025, involved over 300 local nominees and 1,200 team members across 72 communities nationwide, all working to raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association's research, education, and health equity programs. Lee A. Shapiro, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association, acknowledged the significant impact made by Merrick and fellow nominees in advancing community heart and brain health.