The American Heart Association has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to community organizations to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) at 185 sites in 30 states, according to an announcement made via NEWMEDIAWIRE. The funding will help create safer environments for approximately 400,000 people in places where they live, learn, work, and play.
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital in the United States. Survival often hinges on how quickly bystanders recognize the emergency, call 911, begin CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Yet many community organizations, schools, and public-serving facilities lack a coordinated plan for responding when a cardiac emergency strikes.
The grants include CPR training kits, AED installation and maintenance, and on-site CPR training to support comprehensive CERP development. Sites were selected through an application process in the spring, with priority given to organizations serving youth and families in areas of greatest need. A CERP is a written, site-specific plan that outlines exactly how an organization should respond during a cardiac emergency, ensuring staff and volunteers know their roles, how to activate emergency medical services, begin CPR, and access an AED quickly.
Last year, the Association worked with leaders nationwide to implement 794 CERPs, impacting more than 1.6 million people. With these new grants, the Association is on track to implement more than 1,000 CERPs this year, helping more people have the best chance of survival. The initiative reflects a growing movement by the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative to change the idea that CPR is a skill only medical professionals can perform to a shared human responsibility.
“The real heroes of this work are the communities choosing to take action before an emergency happens,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “By working directly with communities we’re hoping we can create a culture where training and preparation are the norm. Because the truth is when people prioritize CPR training and preparedness as a shared responsibility, more lives can be saved.”
The effort reinforces the Association’s vision of creating communities where lifesaving skills and preparedness are accessible to everyone. As a founding member of the NFL’s Smart Heart Sports Coalition, the American Heart Association also champions state policies that require schools to implement cardiac emergency response plans.
For more information about CPR education, resources such as Bystander CPR and Bystander CPR Infographic are available. Additional materials include Hands-Only CPR Resources and a guide on Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths. The Association also offers insights on Women and CPR and the difference between Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack.
To address disparities, toolkits are available in English and Spanish. A 90-second training is available at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
