Overview
- The American Heart Association rolled out Nation of Lifesavers during CPR & AED Awareness Week, which began Monday, June 1, 2026, by naming five survivors and rescuers as inaugural ambassadors to share stories and lead local trainings.
- A central tactic is teaching Hands‑Only CPR that requires only chest compressions at 100–120 beats per minute, a skill the AHA says can be learned in minutes at kiosks or brief demonstrations.
- From June 10 through July 19 the AHA will deploy a Nation of Lifesavers mobile CPR unit at FIFA Fan Festivals in Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia and at New York/New Jersey Fan Zone sites to train fans on-site.
- Local and partner actions announced this week include the Houston Texans and AHA training nearly 100 youth coaches and donating three AEDs, and RWJBarnabas Health donating 10 CPR-in-Schools training kits to New Jersey schools.
- The campaign responds to data showing more than 350,000 out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrests in the U.S. each year and very low bystander intervention, with the AHA arguing quick public training and AED access can double or triple survival chances.