CPR Training Initiative Aims to Strengthen Community Emergency Response During Cardiac Arrest

The American Heart Association and National Fraternal Order of Police have launched a joint initiative during American Heart Month 2026, urging Americans to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to strengthen community emergency response capabilities. This marks the fourth consecutive year the organizations have highlighted the critical need for preparedness, emphasizing that immediate CPR can double or even triple survival chances when someone experiences cardiac arrest. According to American Heart Association statistics, approximately 350,000 people in the U.S. experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually, with 90% of these events resulting in death.

Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, stated the organization is creating a Nation of Lifesavers by ensuring more people are comfortable delivering CPR when witnessing cardiac arrest. Rosen emphasized that anyone can serve as a first responder during medical emergencies until professional help arrives. This community-focused approach aims to activate the chain of survival immediately when cardiac emergencies occur, rather than waiting for emergency services to arrive on scene.

Patrick Yoes, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, highlighted that law enforcement officers frequently arrive at emergencies where seconds make the difference between life and death. By encouraging more citizens to act as initial first responders through CPR knowledge, communities strengthen their overall emergency response infrastructure. Yoes noted this shared commitment to safety and preparedness reinforces the vital role community members play alongside professional responders.

Ashish Panchal, M.D., Ph.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, explained that when more people are trained in CPR, help begins before sirens are heard, significantly improving chances for positive outcomes. Panchal stressed the importance of immediate recognition, calling 9-1-1, and starting CPR as soon as possible to maximize recovery odds. The initiative encourages not only learning CPR but refreshing existing training and motivating others to participate in this lifesaving education.

The organizations point to research supporting their call to action, including the American Heart Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2030 Impact Goals published in Circulation and the 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report available at https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001303. These documents provide scientific foundation for the initiative's emphasis on early intervention and community preparedness. The American Heart Association maintains additional resources through their website at www.heart.org/nation.

Sudden cardiac arrest can occur anywhere at any time, with survival often depending on bystander intervention before professional responders arrive. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services professionals, and other first responders bring critical skills to cardiac emergencies daily, but their effectiveness is enhanced when community members are prepared to initiate immediate care. The organizations frame preparedness as a shared responsibility that transcends individual roles, creating communities ready to respond when seconds matter most.