The American Heart Association (AHA) has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to community organizations in 30 states to establish Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) at 185 sites, potentially benefiting approximately 400,000 people. The initiative, announced on September 23, 2026, aims to address the critical gap in emergency preparedness for cardiac arrests, which strike more than 350,000 Americans outside hospitals each year. With survival often hinging on immediate bystander action—calling 911, starting CPR, and using an automated external defibrillator (AED)—these grants provide CPR training kits, AED installation and maintenance, and on-site training to help organizations create safer environments.
CERPs are written, site-specific protocols that outline how an organization should respond to a cardiac emergency, ensuring staff and volunteers know their roles, how to activate emergency medical services, and how to quickly access an AED. The AHA emphasizes that such plans are crucial because many community organizations, schools, and public facilities lack coordinated response strategies. By prioritizing youth and family-serving organizations in areas of greatest need, the grants aim to reduce disparities in cardiac arrest survival. Last year, the AHA helped implement 794 CERPs, impacting over 1.6 million people; with these new grants, it is on track to exceed 1,000 CERPs this year.
This effort is part of the AHA's broader Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which seeks to transform the perception of CPR from a medical professional skill to a shared human responsibility. "The real heroes of this work are the communities choosing to take action before an emergency happens," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "By working directly with communities we're hoping we can create a culture where training and preparation are the norm. Because the truth is when people prioritize CPR training and preparedness as a shared responsibility, more lives can be saved." The initiative also supports state policies requiring schools to implement CERPs, as part of the AHA's role as a founding member of the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition.
The grants reflect a growing recognition that community-wide preparedness is essential to improving cardiac arrest outcomes. By equipping organizations with resources and training, the AHA hopes to build confidence among bystanders to act during the critical first minutes. For more information on CPR education and CERPs, visit Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and heart.org/nation. Additional resources include Bystander CPR and Hands-Only CPR Resources. To learn how to save a life in 90 seconds, visit www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. The AHA's efforts underscore its commitment to equitable health, as detailed on heart.org and stroke.org. For the latest CPR guidelines, see the 2025 CPR Guidelines Highlights. This announcement was originally distributed via NEWMEDIAWIRE.
