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Date Published: June 3, 2025
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals in the United States. Most occur in homes or public settings where immediate medical help is unavailable.
Yet only about 40% of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before emergency medical services arrive — use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) is even lower, hovering just over 10%.
In an emergency, every second counts. During cardiac arrest — when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs — a victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10% for every minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation.
That’s why National CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1–7) is a critical reminder: learning these lifesaving skills empowers anyone — at any age — to be the difference between life and death.
Established in 2007 by Congress in collaboration with the American Red Cross, American Heart Association and National Safety Council, this week is a call to action for every American to:
Hands-Only CPR is a natural introduction to complete CPR training. Administering hands-only is something any bystander can do. Hands-only CPR requires you to push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
AEDs are designed for easy use by lay responders. These lifesaving devices guide you step by step with voice prompts and only deliver a shock if one is needed.
You’ll find AEDs in many public spaces like airports, gyms, schools and malls — but they’re only helpful if someone nearby can find them and is willing to use them.
Whether you are a healthcare worker, a workplace responder or a public member, the American Red Cross offers a variety of online, blended and instructor-led classroom courses, all compliant with public health guidance.
Several American Red Cross CPR and AED training courses satisfy requirements set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Check with your employer to determine what class you need if you are taking CPR and AED training to fulfill a job requirement.
Drew Ashley was flying with his family from Baltimore to West Palm Beach, Florida when a fellow passenger experienced a medical emergency. He and his dad, Anthony, both Red Cross CPR Instructors, administered CPR for 45 minutes until the airplane could make an emergency landing.
Their actions saved a man’s life, and yours could too.
You won’t have time to think in an emergency — you’ll have to act. CPR & AED Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity to prepare and practice to protect the people you love.
Help spread the message of CPR & AED Awareness Week:
Your actions can make all the difference.
Training Services is a division of the American Red Cross. Our mission is to advance lifesaving education so you are better to prepared. Our robust training curriculum includes CPR and AED, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Babysitting and Child Care, Lifeguarding, Water Safety and more.
