DALLAS - June 1, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Five compelling, real-life CPR stories kick off a new American Heart Association storytelling initiative focused on doubling the sudden cardiac arrest survival rate, as part of CPR & AED Awareness Week. According to the Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time.

The five survivors and rescuers make up the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class. For a one-year term, the group will share their personal stories of survival and what it takes to step in during an emergency through traditional and digital media, by advocating for public policies that improve the chain of survival, and leading volunteer CPR training opportunities. The five featured stories were chosen from among dozens of videos submitted by real survivors and everyday rescuers throughout the country.

“Nearly 2 out of 3 people believe only those with special training should perform CPR, a mistaken belief that costs lives,” Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health in New York City. “To kick off CPR & AED Awareness Week, the American Heart Association is highlighting these powerful stories and working to change the idea of CPR as a medical skill to a shared human responsibility. Everyone should know that the power to save a life is in your hands.”

By sharing their personal experiences through social media and with news media nationwide, as well as within their own communities, these volunteers will help shift public perceptions of CPR and ensure more people are trained in the simple, two-step, lifesaving skill.

The 2026 members of the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class are:

• Philicia Baugh (49, Charleston, S.C.) was on a family trip when someone she loved suddenly became unresponsive. Amid the chaos and fear, her training took over and she knew she had to take action to give her loved one the best chance of survival. Philicia provided chest compressions until paramedics came and finally restored a heartbeat.

• Kristen Walenga (52, Chicago, Ill.) was preparing breakfast for her four children one Saturday morning when she suddenly collapsed. Each of her children took action that day to save her life, including her son Eddie, who was 15-years-old at the time and had learned CPR in school two years prior from the American Heart Association.

• Matthew Lynch (32, Cinnaminson, N.J.) was stuck in traffic one morning on his daily commute to work. When he finally caught up to the car blocking traffic, he noticed both the driver and passenger were unresponsive. He knew he needed to start CPR - which he’d learned at work. Matthew pushed hard and fast in the center of the man’s chest until he gasped for breath, then he turned his attention to the passenger until paramedics arrived.

• Edward Marsh (59, Houston, Texas) was on the dance floor when he suddenly collapsed. A group of strangers and a friend of his immediately took action and began CPR. Their quick thinking and confidence to act saved his life and allowed him to get back on the dance floor just eight weeks later.

• Wallis Marsh, (59, Houston, Texas) Edward’s twin, was inspired to learn CPR after surviving his own heart attack. Little did he know he would use those skills to save the life of his friend and former NFL player Jeff Tupper at his home.

When someone’s heart stops, immediate CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use can double or even triple their chance of surviving. Yet less than half of people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest receive the help they need from someone nearby. Medical credentials or formal training are not required to provide CPR to someone in an emergency. What matters is awareness, confidence and the willingness to act. In a cardiac emergency, anyone can be the difference before professional help arrives. If a teen or adult collapses, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. It’s important to give between 100-120 beats per minute, about the same tempo as the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.

The Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative is committed to doubling the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 by turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The long-term goal: to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival. Join the Nation of Lifesavers by learning CPR and submit your own CPR story here.

Walgreens is a proud national sponsor of Nation of Lifesavers.

Additional Resources:

• Downloadable photos are available on the right column of this release link.
• Spanish news release (coming soon)
• 2025 CPR Guidelines Highlights
• American Heart Association’s Don’t Drop the Beat Spotify Playlist
• Nominate someone who has provided CPR for a Heartsaver Hero Award.
• Visit heart.org/nation to learn CPR.
• Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF)
• Hands-Only CPR Resources
• Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths
• Women and CPR
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
• Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
• Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews
• More than 8 in 10 (82%) U.S. adults say they are confident in the American Heart Association to provide trustworthy information related to public health, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll. The Association ranked second only to an individual’s personal health care provider.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Staff Contact: Libby.Ridenhour@Heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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