More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the United States, and survival often hinges on immediate bystander action: recognizing the emergency, calling 911, starting CPR, and using an automated external defibrillator. Yet many community organizations, schools, and public facilities lack a coordinated response plan. To address this gap, the American Heart Association has awarded grants to community-serving organizations to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) at 185 sites in 30 states. The initiative represents more than $1.1 million invested in emergency preparedness and is expected to benefit approximately 400,000 people.
The grants include CPR training kits, AED installation and maintenance, and on-site CPR training to support comprehensive CERP development. Sites were selected through a spring application process, 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. The plans also encourage regular practice and evaluation of response procedures.
The need for such planning is underscored by the fact that cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, anytime. Last year, the Association worked with community leaders 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. This effort reflects the Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative, which seeks to shift the perception 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 grants aim to create safer places to live, learn, work, and play, reinforcing the Association's vision of equitable access to lifesaving skills.
The long-term goal is to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR. 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, visit heart.org/nation. Additional resources include the 2025 CPR Guidelines Highlights and materials on Bystander CPR and Hands-Only CPR Resources. The public can also learn how to save a life in 90 seconds at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. The Association encourages involvement through its Heart Powered grassroots network at heartpowered.org/cerps. These efforts collectively aim to reduce disparities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes, as detailed in toolkits available in English and Spanish. With these grants, the American Heart Association is not only providing resources but also fostering a culture of preparedness that could significantly improve cardiac arrest survival rates across the nation.
