The American Heart Association has awarded Nation of Lifesavers grants to 33 high schools and colleges across 20 states, including the District of Columbia, to expand CPR training and cardiac emergency preparedness on campuses. This initiative addresses a critical public health gap: according to Association data, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, with more than half not receiving immediate CPR. The grants support the Association's nationwide movement to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030.
The grants target American Heart Association Heart Clubs, student-led organizations that empower members to support physical and mental well-being in their communities. Started in the 2024-2025 school year, there are now more than 250 such clubs across the U.S. The awarded institutions include colleges such as Howard University, Cornell University, and the University of Texas at Austin, and high schools like Clara Barton High School for Health Professions and Davis Senior High School.
For colleges, grants include funding for two CPR in Schools Kits with manikins and training materials, plus $500 to facilitate campus CPR training. For high schools, funding will help develop individualized Cardiac Emergency Response Plans, provide credentialed CPR First Aid AED training, raise awareness with CPR kits, and advocate for safer school policies. "Preparation should be the norm, not the exception," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association.
The importance of such preparedness is underscored by personal stories. Pia Scarfo Allocca, whose son Francesco experienced sudden cardiac arrest at Locust Valley High School basketball tryouts in November 2025, credited immediate bystander response with saving his life. "My son is alive because his school was prepared," she said. The American Heart Association, the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, publishes official CPR guidelines, with the latest clinical guidelines available in its journal Circulation.
The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to turn bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring anyone is prepared to perform CPR during cardiac emergencies. The Association encourages the public to learn CPR through resources at heart.org/nation. Walgreens serves as a national sponsor of the initiative. This grant program represents a strategic investment in building community resilience against cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death where minutes without intervention dramatically reduce survival chances.
