MADISON — More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year. This February, during American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is calling on everyday citizens to be agents of change by stepping in as the first responder until professional help arrives.
Nine out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. The American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, envisions communities where people don’t wait for help — they become it.
The Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative offers suggestions on how to take charge of your personal health and inspire a Nation of Lifesavers this American Heart Month:
1. Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers. In Wisconsin, individuals and families can take an online or in-person CPR course, watch a 90-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults or watch this video to learn how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. To learn more about CPR, including new CPR guidelines published in Circulation this fall, visit heart.org/nation.
2. Make a plan. During a cardiac emergency, a well-developed plan could make all the difference. Don’t wait for help, become it. Remember, you are the first responder until professional help arrives. A cardiac emergency response plan or (CERP) establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting — be it a school, community organization, workplace or sports facility. Learn more about CERPs and find free resources at heart.org/cerp.
3. Get Local. Join a Heart Walk in Wisconsin this fall. Strong communities are built by preparedness. So check in. Lace up.
● Madison Heart Walk — Sept. 26
● Southeast WI Heart & Stroke Walk/5K Run — Sept. 26 (Milwaukee)
● Bert Blain Memorial Heart Walk — September Date TBD (Janesville)
● Fox Cities Heart Walk — Oct. 24 (Appleton)
Cardiac arrest can affect anyone, anywhere — at the gym, in the grocery store, or during a child’s soccer game. However, bystanders only intervene less than half of the time, often due to uncertainty or lack of training. Yet CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.
“Heart Month is an opportunity to spotlight heart health and ways to take action,” said Cindy Milgram, heart disease survivor and member of the Heart Association’s Wisconsin Advocacy Committee. “We need more people trained in CPR because cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and bystanders only intervene 40% of the time.
“We encourage everyone to join the Nation of Lifesavers and learn hands-only CPR. Be a hero and learn to save a life, whether it’s a stranger or someone they love, by learning CPR and taking action in an emergency. All you need is knowledge, courage and the willingness to act.
The goal of the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative is to turn bystanders into lifesavers, so that in the face of a cardiac emergency anyone, anywhere is prepared and empowered to become a vital link in the chain of survival and provide CPR.
“I am forever grateful that on May 23, 2025, a bystander became a lifesaver by performing CPR and saving my life,” said Dan Molland, cardiac arrest survivor and American Heart Association volunteer. “I encourage everyone to get trained in CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers, so others can have the same second chance at life that I did.”
The Association leads global efforts in public awareness, education and policy change, while also serving as the scientific authority that develops the official CPR and emergency cardiovascular care guidelines used by other CPR and first aid training providers in the U.S. and in over 90 countries worldwide.
To join the Nation of Lifesavers and continue to raise awareness during American Heart Month, visit heart.org/nation. Nation of Lifesavers is nationally sponsored by Walgreens.
Other key dates this Heart Month
Kicking off American Heart Month is National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6, a day when the American Heart Association asks everyone to support the Go Red for Women movement by wearing red to bring awareness to women’s health.
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and according to the American Heart Association, nearly 45% of women 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. The public is invited to engage with the Association by sharing their photos on social media and tagging American Heart Association — Wisconsin.
In addition, the American Heart Association recognizes Feb. 7 to 14 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Each year, more than 40,000 children are born with a congenital heart defect, the most common birth defect.
Approximately 2.4 million children and adults are thought to be living in the United States with congenital heart disease. These defects can involve the heart muscle, valves, walls or major blood vessels connected to the heart.
February is also Black History Month, when the American Heart Association focuses on an opportunity to raise awareness of both the innovative contributions the Black community has made related to heart and brain health, as well as the challenges the community faces related to equitable health.
Additional Resources:
● Downloadable B-roll, photos and infographics are available on the right column of this release link.
● News Release: Updated CPR guidelines tackle choking response, opioid-related emergencies and a revised Chain of Survival
● 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/nation.
