Police Union and Heart Association Urge CPR Training to Strengthen Community Emergency Response

The National Fraternal Order of Police has joined the American Heart Association in urging Americans to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during American Heart Month 2026, highlighting that immediate bystander action during cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death. For the fourth consecutive year, the campaign emphasizes that providing immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival when their heart suddenly stops beating.

‘The American Heart Association is creating a Nation of Lifesavers by ensuring more people are comfortable delivering CPR when they witness someone experiencing cardiac arrest,’ said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. ‘Anyone can be a first responder during a medical emergency until professional help arrives on the scene.’ According to the Heart Association’s statistics, 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.

Law enforcement officers and other first responders bring critical skills to cardiac emergencies daily, but survival often begins with a bystander who witnesses the event. ‘Every day, our local law enforcement officers work to protect lives and keep communities safe, often arriving at moments when seconds make the difference,’ said Patrick Yoes, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police. ‘By encouraging more citizens to act as initial first responders by knowing and performing CPR, we strengthen the chain of survival and reinforce a shared commitment to safety and preparedness.’

Medical experts stress that expanding access to CPR education helps activate the chain of survival earlier, ideally the moment a cardiac emergency occurs. ‘When more people are trained, help is already in motion before sirens are heard, which can improve the chance of a positive outcome,’ said Ashish Panchal, M.D., Ph.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee. ‘The sooner people realize help is needed, call 9-1-1 and start CPR, the better the odds are the person can recover.’

The organizations encourage everyone to learn CPR, refresh existing training, and motivate others during American Heart Month, emphasizing that preparedness is a shared responsibility. More information is available at www.heart.org/nation. The American Heart Association’s research on improving cardiac arrest outcomes is detailed in their scientific statement published in Circulation, while comprehensive statistics on heart disease and stroke can be found in their 2025 report at https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001303.

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