BOSTON - During National CPR and AED Awareness Week, the Red Sox Foundation and the American Heart Association transformed Fenway Park into a lifesaving training ground on June 4, equipping an invited 400 people with Hands-Only CPR skills. The event, held following the Red Sox–Orioles game, brought together youth athletes, coaches, educators, healthcare advocates, and community leaders on the outfield for immersive training designed to build confidence in responding to sudden cardiac arrest emergencies.
Sudden cardiac arrest kills hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, often because bystanders don’t know how to respond. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals annually, and about 90% are fatal, frequently because CPR isn’t performed soon enough. The training emphasized that Hands-Only CPR for teens and adults has just two steps: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100–120 beats per minute—roughly the rhythm of “Stayin’ Alive” or “Uptown Funk”—to a depth of approximately two inches.
“We are deeply grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this lifesaving effort to Fenway Park,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “By uniting hundreds of people on the field during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, this effort not only raises awareness but equips individuals with the confidence to act when every second matters.”
Earlier in the day, the organizations hosted a panel discussion on heart health and emergency response preparedness, moderated by Dr. Jennifer Ashton, founder of Ajenda and American Heart Association board member. Panelists included Nancy Brown; 2018 Red Sox World Series Champion Brock Holt; Angel City FC defender and cardiac arrest survivor Savy King; and local cardiac arrest survivor and rescuer duo Marc Henderson and Jim McQuade.
“At the Red Sox Foundation, we believe strengthening our communities means investing in the health, safety and well-being of the people who call them home,” said Bekah Salwasser, executive director of the Red Sox Foundation. “Providing access to lifesaving education like Hands-Only CPR is one of the many ways we work to create lasting impact beyond the ballpark.”
By completing the training, participants joined the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin. The initiative focuses on expanding CPR education and increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, of which Major League Baseball is a founding member. The Heart Association will also offer Hands-Only CPR skills to fans attending the All-Star Village in Philadelphia, July 11-14.
“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby is prepared to act in those first critical moments,” said Ashton. “Seeing hundreds of people gathered across the Fenway Park outfield learning these lifesaving skills sent a powerful message about the impact communities can have when education, awareness and action come together.”
