The American Heart Association and the Chicago White Sox hosted nearly 100 fifth-grade students from Hatch Elementary School at Rate Field for hands-on training in Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator awareness. The event, held ahead of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, aimed to give young people the confidence to act during cardiac emergencies.
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals in the United States, and immediate action from a bystander can be the difference between life and death. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival. Students rotated through an interactive Nation of Lifesavers experience led by association experts and local volunteers, practicing how to recognize a cardiac emergency, call 9-1-1, and deliver Hands-Only CPR at the recommended rate and depth. They also learned about the role of an AED.
"A cardiac emergency can happen anywhere, including a classroom, gym, home or ballpark, and the person who needs help may be someone you know and love," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "That is why it is so important to give young people the knowledge and confidence to act. These students learned that they do not have to be health care professionals to make a lifesaving difference."
The training paired practical skills with the teamwork and readiness students see on the baseball field. "We're proud to support organizations that empower young people to make a positive difference in the lives of others," said White Sox senior Vice President of Community Relations Christine O'Reilly. "Bringing that learning to Rate Field adds a memorable experience to an important lesson that these students can carry with them well beyond the ballpark."
Students also heard from Amber Baker, national vice president at the American Heart Association, and Kristen Walenga, a Chicago-area sudden cardiac arrest survivor whose life was saved when her then 15-year-old son provided CPR after an American Heart Association training through his school. Walenga is a member of the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class, a dedicated group of CPR survivors and rescuers, and shares her story to help more people feel confident about taking action.
The Nation of Lifesavers initiative advances the association's goal of equipping more people with the knowledge and confidence to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. The association has collaborated with Major League Baseball on this work since 2023. Through partnerships with schools, sports organizations and community leaders, the initiative expands CPR education and promotes Cardiac Emergency Response Plans, helping communities prepare before an emergency occurs.
The event was held ahead of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, the organization's flagship scientific meeting and one of the world's leading cardiovascular conferences, taking place in Chicago from Nov. 7-9. The meeting convenes researchers, clinicians, health care leaders and partners to share breakthrough science and advance cardiovascular care.
By bringing CPR education to a setting rooted in sports and teamwork, the event reinforced a simple message: anyone, including a student, can take action when every second counts. To learn Hands-Only CPR and find resources to help schools, workplaces or communities prepare for a cardiac emergency, visit heart.org/nation. For more information, visit heart.org and stroke.org. The original release is available at www.newmediawire.com.
