The National Fraternal Order of Police has joined the American Heart Association during American Heart Month 2026 to urge Americans to learn how to respond in medical emergencies, particularly cardiac arrest, where providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be the difference between life and death. This marks the fourth consecutive year this partnership has highlighted the critical need for emergency preparedness.
Providing immediate CPR for a person experiencing cardiac arrest can double or even triple their chances of survival, according to the organizations. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, stated the association is creating a Nation of Lifesavers by ensuring more people are comfortable delivering CPR when they witness someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Rosen emphasized that anyone can be a first responder during a medical emergency until professional help arrives.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and at any time. Survival often begins with a witness to the event and is strengthened by the rapid response of first responders. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services professionals and other first responders bring skill, courage and compassion to cardiac emergencies every day. Patrick Yoes, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, noted that by encouraging more citizens to act as initial first responders by knowing and performing CPR, communities strengthen the chain of survival and reinforce a shared commitment to safety and preparedness.
By expanding access to CPR education, communities can help ensure the chain of survival is activated earlier, ideally the moment a cardiac emergency occurs. Ashish Panchal, M.D., Ph.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, explained that when more people are trained, help is already in motion before sirens are heard, which can improve the chance of a positive outcome. The sooner people realize help is needed, call 9-1-1 and start CPR, the better the odds are the person can recover.
This American Heart Month, the organizations encourage everyone to take action: learn CPR, refresh existing training and motivate others to do the same. Preparedness is presented as a shared responsibility. The urgency is underscored by statistics showing approximately 350,000 people in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, which results in death 90% of the time, according to the American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report.
The call to action extends beyond the month, positioning CPR knowledge as a fundamental community safeguard. The partnership leverages the credibility of both national organizations to disseminate a clear public health message. The American Heart Association provides resources for those interested in joining the Nation of Lifesavers at www.heart.org/nation. The implications are significant for public health outcomes, potentially increasing survival rates from a leading cause of death by empowering ordinary citizens with a critical, life-saving skill.
