Here is something worth knowing. Sudden cardiac arrest is still one of the leading causes of death in the United States. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals each year. That is close to 1,000 people every day.

The survival rate is still far too low. About 9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital do not survive.

But those first few minutes can change everything.

When someone nearby starts CPR right away, it can double or even triple the person’s chance of survival. When an AED is used quickly, the odds can improve even more.

That is why CPR training matters. Cardiac arrest does not usually happen in a hospital with a medical team standing nearby. It often happens at home, at work, at church, in a gym, on a ball field, or in a grocery store.

In that moment, the person who helps first is usually an ordinary person standing close by.

Everyone should learn CPR. You hope you never need it, but if you do, there is no substitute for knowing what to do.

Why do we need CPR training?

Workplace CPR Training Can Save Lives—and Reduce Risk – Updated 2026

What’s the purpose of an AED?

Inside a CPR Class: The Equipment That Teaches Lifesaving Skills