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 Northeast Ohio, 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 a 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 the Northeast Ohio Heart Walk. Strong communities are built by preparedness. So check in. Lace up. Whether it’s joining a Heart Walk team, taking a CPR class or making sure your office, school or church has a plan, now is the time to take charge of your own health and the health of your community. Register at heart.org/neowalk.
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.
“I lead a large construction company with thousands of professionals on job sites every day. In recent years, we’ve experienced an increase in heart-related incidents on our projects—several requiring CPR and AED intervention to save lives,” said Paul Becks, president of Welty Construction and co-chair of the 2026 Northeast Ohio Heart Walk. “Heart disease touches everyone in some way, and raising awareness is a meaningful step toward prevention and care.”
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.
“My grandmother passed away suddenly from a heart attack when my oldest son was just one year old,” said Dr. Teri Lash-Ritter, president of the Cleveland Clinic south submarket – Akron General and Lodi Hospitals and co-chair of the 2026 Northeast Ohio Heart Walk. “Her absence has been felt profoundly over the years, especially knowing she never had the chance to meet or be part of her great-grandchildren’s lives. That experience reminds me daily how heart disease touches families for generations, and it motivates me to support prevention, education, and research that can help save lives.”
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. The 2026 Northeast Ohio Heart Walk is locally sponsored by mission sponsor Cleveland Clinic.
