Join Us in Celebrating Heart Month
Every February, we join the American Heart Association in observance of Heart Month to remind us all we can be the difference in saving a life through effective CPR training as part of the Nation of LifesaversTM.
This Heart Month, hear from survivors who have beaten the odds. When seconds mattered the most, CPR made the difference in whether friends, family, or loved ones survived. We’re honored to help share these stories of survival from some of our organizations who have found quality improvement resuscitation education helpful in saving more lives from sudden cardiac arrest.
Create a Nation of Lifesavers
The American Heart Association has set a goal of doubling the survival of cardiac arrest by 2030. However, to save more lives from the 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur each year, the number of individuals equipped to respond with high-quality CPR must increase.
By turning bystanders into lifesavers, we’re ensuring that anyone, anywhere is prepared and empowered to become a vital link in the chain of survival.
Learn more about the Nation of Lifesavers and how to make a lifesaving impact in your community!
The Impact of Cardiac Arrest
About 70% of cardiac arrests that happen outside of a hospital happen at home.- CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
- For adults and teens, Hands-Only CPR can double or even triple chance of survival.
- Infants and children need CPR including breaths.
- Only about 41% of people who experience cardiac arrest receive CPR from people nearby while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
- Less than 12% of individuals who experienced a cardiac arrest in public had a bystander applied AED.
- More than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year. 40% are related to sports. Nearly 20% are infants.
- Cardiac arrest accounts for 10-15% of sudden unexpected infant deaths.
- Women are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching.
- A 2017 study found that only 39% of women in cardiac arrest received CPR from strangers in public, compared with 45% of men, and men’s odds of surviving were 23% higher than women.
Heart Month Education
This Heart Month, explore stories and insights that celebrate lifesaving action and the power of heart health education. From our team members proudly wearing red on National Wear Red Day® to raise awareness, to Nova Scotia Health’s transformation of CPR training through the RQI program, and a nurse whose quick response saved a life by putting her training into action, these blogs highlight real-world impact. Plus, dive into the latest ILCOR research on out-of-hospital bystander CPR rates, including a spotlight on Ireland—recognized for having the highest rates of bystander CPR in the world. Discover inspiring stories, practical tips, and cutting-edge research that show how knowledge, readiness, and community come together to save lives.
Read why our team members choose to wear red for #WearRedDay and why it matters to them.
Read Now about our recent blog post titled Why Do You “Wear Red?”
Read how Nova Scotia Health Transformed CPR Training with the RQI Program in Canada.
Read Now about how Nova Scotia Health Transformed CPR Training with the RQI Program in Canada.
Read how Erin Eldridge, RN, used RQI-honed CPR training at Alabama football game to save a man’s life.
Read Now about how Erin Eldridge, RN, used RQI-honed CPR training at an Alabama football game.
Read the latest research from ILCOR about characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and how Ireland leads in the highest bystander CPR rates in the world.
This testimonial tells the dramatic story of Andrea Rogers, a certified surgical technologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who used her RQI CPR training to save a young woman struck by lightning at Webster Park.
Erin Mender, a registered nurse at Corewell Health, recounts a pivotal moment during an Alabama football game when she was alerted to a medical emergency.
Nan Catalan, an RN at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, arrived home from work and witnessed a life-threatening emergency. Watch as she shares her story of how taking quick action in a critical moment saved Bob Barnes’ life.
Share Your Story
Raising awareness saves lives. Tell us about your experience as a CPR survivor or rescuer. We want to recognize heroes that have stepped in to save a life and email us here RQIinfo@rqipartners.com.
Resources for Download
For RQI Community members, please visit the Resuscitation User Network (RUN) to access additional resources available to you. Sign in here
Teams/Zoom Backgrounds
CPR Playlist from the American Heart Association
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack Fact Sheet
The songs on this list are between 100 – 120 bpm, the same rate at which you should perform compressions when administering CPR.
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same. Use this resource as an educational teaching tool.
