The National Fraternal Order of Police has joined the American Heart Association in urging Americans to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during American Heart Month 2026, emphasizing that immediate bystander action can be the difference between life and death in a cardiac emergency. For the fourth consecutive year, the campaign highlights the critical need for community preparedness, as providing immediate CPR for a person experiencing cardiac arrest can double or even triple their chances of survival.
"The American Heart Association is creating a Nation of Lifesavers by ensuring more people are comfortable delivering CPR when they witness someone experiencing cardiac arrest," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. "Anyone can be a first responder during a medical emergency until professional help arrives on the scene." This initiative is crucial because sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and at any time, with survival often beginning with a witness to the event.
Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services professionals and other first responders bring skill and compassion to cardiac emergencies daily, but their efforts are strengthened by prepared citizens. "Every day, our local law enforcement officers work to protect lives and keep communities safe, often arriving at moments when seconds make the difference," said Patrick Yoes, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police. "By encouraging more citizens to act as initial first responders by knowing and performing CPR, we strengthen the chain of survival and reinforce a shared commitment to safety and preparedness."
The statistics underscore the urgency of this public health message. Each year, approximately 350,000 people in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which results in death 90% of the time, according to the Heart Association’s statistics. By expanding access to CPR education, communities can help ensure the chain of survival is activated earlier, ideally the moment a cardiac emergency occurs. "When more people are trained, help is already in motion before sirens are heard, which can improve the chance of a positive outcome," said Ashish Panchal, M.D., Ph.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee.
The American Heart Association provides resources for those interested in learning more, including information available at https://www.heart.org/nation. This American Heart Month, the organizations encourage everyone to take action: learn CPR, refresh existing training and motivate others to do the same. Preparedness is presented as a shared responsibility, with the goal of ensuring communities are ready to respond when seconds matter most. The original release can be viewed on https://www.newmediawire.com.
