3 ways to take health and safety into your hands this summer

American Heart Association reminds communities during CPR & AED Awareness Week, the power to save a life is in your hands

MILWAUKEE, WI, May 2026 — Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anytime, anywhere, and too often people hesitate to step in because they believe CPR can only be performed by medical professionals. During CPR and AED Awareness Week, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, is working to change that misconception and empower everyday people to act when it matters most.

According to the Association, more than two in three people in the U.S. believe only people with special training should perform CPR, a mistaken belief that contributes to the low survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, and hesitation can cost lives. During CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, the American Heart Association is reminding families and communities, you don’t need to wear scrubs or have a medical background to save a life. You just need the courage to act.

Heading into summer, the Association offers this checklist for families, workplaces and other communities to take health and safety into your own hands:

1. Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers. Families can watch a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults or this video to learn how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. For groups and individuals who want more comprehensive training, discover the right course with the Association’s CPR course catalog. Travelers can also get trained in Hands-Only CPR in about five minutes with a Hands-Only CPR Kiosk, located in many airports and public spaces across the country. For more information on how to learn CPR, visit heart.org/nation.  
2. Plan ahead.  Summer is often a time for welcome disruptions. School is out, and it’s time for parties, camps and family trips. Checkif your summer destination has a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP). A CERP establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting — be it a school, community organization, workplace or sports facility.
3. Join the Southeastern Wisconsin Heart and Stroke Walk. Every walker who joins and every dollar donated means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more lifesaving research funded and longer, healthier lives for everyone in the Milwaukee area. Learn more and get involved by visiting www.sewiheartwalk.org.

“Life can be unpredictable at times, and one way you can take control is by being prepared in an emergency,” American Heart Association volunteer and certified CPR instructor Connie Schneider said. “Cardiac arrest doesn’t wait. It can happen to anyone at any time. When it does, that person is reliant on the people around them to be calm, be prepared and be ready to step in. This CPR Week, we’re reminding everyone that ordinary people have extraordinary power to save a life.”

More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year[1], and 90% of people will not survive. Join the Nation of Lifesavers to help ensure everyone, everywhere has the best chance to survive cardiac arrest.

The American Heart Association is committed to turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The long-term goal: to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.

For additional ways to raise awareness during National CPR & AED Awareness Week, visit heart.org/nation. Nation of Lifesavers is nationally sponsored by Walgreens.

Additional Resources: 

• Downloadable B-roll, photos and infographics are available on the right column of this release link. 
• Video interview with expert, Annie Arens, M.D., CPR/AED photos, demos and infographic available here.
• Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF) 
• Hands-Only CPR Resources
• Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths 
• Women and CPR
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
• Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
• Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. 

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.