Chicago Students Learn Lifesaving CPR at White Sox Ballpark

The American Heart Association and the Chicago White Sox teamed up to host nearly 100 fifth graders from Hatch Elementary School at Rate Field for a hands-on training in Hands-Only CPR and AED awareness. The event, part of the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative, aimed to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to respond to cardiac emergencies. Students rotated through interactive stations led by AHA experts and volunteers, practicing how to recognize a cardiac emergency, call 9-1-1, and deliver chest compressions at the correct rate and depth. They also learned about the role of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The training emphasized that anyone, including students, can take action when every second counts.

“A cardiac emergency can happen anywhere,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “That is why it is so important to give young people the knowledge and confidence to act.” The event featured speakers including Amber Baker, national vice president at the AHA; Christine O’Reilly, White Sox senior vice president of community relations; and Kristen Walenga, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor whose life was saved by her then-15-year-old son after he received CPR training at school. Walenga is part of the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class, a group of CPR survivors and rescuers who share their stories to inspire others.

The training took place ahead of the AHA’s Scientific Sessions, a leading cardiovascular conference held in Chicago from Nov. 7-9. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, and the Association has collaborated with MLB since 2023 to expand CPR education and promote Cardiac Emergency Response Plans. By bringing CPR education to a setting rooted in sports and teamwork, the event reinforced the message that anyone can be a lifesaver. To learn Hands-Only CPR and find resources, visit heart.org/nation.