Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 23, 2026
AHA Grants $1.1M to Boost CPR Readiness in 30 States
TLDR
- The American Heart Association grants over $1.1 million for CPR and AED programs at 185 sites, giving organizations a competitive edge in emergency preparedness.
- The American Heart Association's Cardiac Emergency Response Plans provide a step-by-step framework for organizations to coordinate CPR, AED use, and emergency response during cardiac arrests.
- The American Heart Association's grants help communities create safer environments, empowering bystanders to save lives and making the world a better place.
- The American Heart Association awarded grants to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans at 185 sites, aiming to train more people in CPR and save lives.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it directly addresses a critical public health gap: the vast majority of cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, where survival rates are low and every minute without intervention reduces the chance of survival. By funding Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in community organizations, schools, and public facilities, the American Heart Association is not only equipping thousands of people with lifesaving skills and resources but also fostering a culture of preparedness. This initiative empowers ordinary people to become first responders in their own communities, potentially saving countless lives. Moreover, it highlights the importance of policy changes and grassroots efforts to make CPR training and AED access universal, ultimately transforming how society responds to cardiac emergencies.
Summary
The American Heart Association has awarded grants to community-serving organizations to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) at 185 sites across 30 states, aiming to create safer environments for approximately 400,000 people. The initiative addresses the critical need for coordinated responses to the more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur annually in the United States, where survival often hinges on immediate bystander action: recognizing the emergency, calling 911, starting CPR, and using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The grants, totaling more than $1.1 million, include CPR training kits, AED installation and maintenance, and on-site CPR training to support comprehensive CERP development. 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. Priority was given to organizations serving youth and families in areas of greatest need. Last year, the Association helped implement 794 CERPs, impacting over 1.6 million people; with these new grants, it is on track to implement more than 1,000 CERPs this year.
The effort reflects the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative, which seeks to shift the perception of CPR from a skill exclusive to medical professionals to a shared human responsibility. By partnering with schools, community centers, youth organizations, recreational facilities, faith-based institutions, and other public-facing entities, the American Heart Association is building the courage and confidence for people to act during the critical first minutes of a cardiac emergency. “The real heroes of this work are the communities choosing to take action before an emergency happens,” said Nancy Brown, CEO 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.” As a founding member of the NFL’s Smart Heart Sports Coalition, the Association also champions state policies requiring schools to implement CERPs. For more information, visit heart.org/nation.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, AHA Grants $1.1M to Boost CPR Readiness in 30 States
