Nearly 100 Chicago-area fifth graders gathered at Rate Field to learn Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator awareness, the American Heart Association and the Chicago White Sox announced. The training, part of the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative, comes as more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals in the United States each year, and immediate action from a bystander can mean the difference between life and death.
Students from Hatch Elementary School rotated through an interactive Nation of Lifesavers experience led by Association experts and local volunteers. They practiced recognizing a cardiac emergency, calling 9-1-1, delivering Hands-Only CPR at the recommended rate and depth, and understanding the role of an AED. The training paired practical skills with the teamwork and readiness students see on the baseball field.
“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. By recognizing a cardiac emergency, calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest, they can become a critical link in the chain of survival. Together with the Chicago White Sox, we are building a Nation of Lifesavers so that more people in every community are prepared to step in when every second counts.”
The event is part of a broader effort to expand CPR education and promote Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) through partnerships with schools, sports organizations, community leaders and advocates. The Association has collaborated with Major League Baseball on this work since 2023, helping communities prepare before an emergency occurs and improving the chance that lifesaving action begins quickly. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, according to the Association.
“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; O’Reilly, who also serves as White Sox Charities executive director; 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 during a cardiac emergency.
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, volunteers and partners to share breakthrough science, advance cardiovascular care and accelerate the Association’s mission to improve health and save lives.
For those interested in learning Hands-Only CPR and finding resources to help schools, workplaces or communities prepare for a cardiac emergency, the Association directs the public to heart.org/nation. More information about the Association is available at heart.org, and stroke-related resources can be found at stroke.org. The original release is available via www.newmediawire.com.
