The American Heart Association has launched a new storytelling initiative, the Nation of Lifesavers, to double the sudden cardiac arrest survival rate by 2030. The initiative, announced during CPR & AED Awareness Week, features five compelling real-life stories of survivors and rescuers who have used CPR to save lives. According to the Association, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, often because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time.
The five individuals selected as the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class will share their personal stories through traditional and digital media, advocate for public policies that improve the chain of survival, and lead volunteer CPR training opportunities. The stories were chosen from dozens of videos submitted by real survivors and everyday rescuers nationwide.
“Nearly 2 out of 3 people believe only those with special training should perform CPR, a mistaken belief that costs lives,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health. “To kick off CPR & AED Awareness Week, the American Heart Association is highlighting these powerful stories and working to change the idea of CPR as a medical skill to a shared human responsibility. Everyone should know that the power to save a life is in your hands.”
The five members of the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers Class include Philicia Baugh of Charleston, S.C., who performed chest compressions on a loved one during a family trip; Kristen Walenga of Chicago, Ill., whose four children saved her life after she collapsed while making breakfast; Matthew Lynch of Cinnaminson, N.J., who performed CPR on an unresponsive driver and passenger while stuck in traffic; Edward Marsh of Houston, Texas, who survived cardiac arrest on a dance floor thanks to bystander CPR; and Wallis Marsh, Edward’s twin, who saved his friend and former NFL player Jeff Tupper after learning CPR following his own heart attack.
When someone’s heart stops, immediate CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use can double or even triple their chance of survival. Yet less than half of people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest receive help from someone nearby. Medical credentials are not required; what matters is awareness, confidence, and the willingness to act. The Association emphasizes that in a cardiac emergency, anyone can be the difference before professional help arrives. Bystanders should call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute, similar to the tempo of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive.”
The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to turn a nation of bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that in a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared to perform CPR. Walgreens is a proud national sponsor. The Association encourages everyone to learn CPR and submit their own CPR stories here. Additional resources include the Heartsaver Hero Award and the Bystander CPR page. The Association’s long-term goal is to double the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030.
