The American Red Cross is encouraging people to become trained to give CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to save lives.  It comes during National CPR & AED Awareness Week, which runs from June 1-7. 

The American Red Cross notes that more than 350,000 people in the U.S. each year experience a cardiac arrest away from a hospital.  In around 90% of instances, the person dies.  The Red Cross says that if CPR is given immediately to someone in a cardiac arrest, it doubles their chances of survival.  Kellie O’Connell, CEO of the Illinois Red Cross, says their training gives people the skills and confidence to intervene when seconds count. 

In 2024, more than 4.5 million people took the Red Cross’s training courses on First Aid, CPR, and AED.