The American Heart Association and the Chicago White Sox brought nearly 100 Chicago-area fifth graders to Rate Field for hands-on training in Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator awareness, an effort aimed at building a generation prepared to respond when every second counts. The event underscores a stark reality: more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals in the United States each year, and immediate action from a bystander can mean the difference between life and death.
Students from Hatch Elementary School rotated through an interactive Nation of Lifesavers experience led by association experts and local volunteers. They practiced recognizing a cardiac emergency, calling 9-1-1, delivering chest compressions at the recommended rate and depth, and understanding the role of an AED. The training paired practical skills with the teamwork and readiness students see on the baseball field.
“A cardiac emergency can happen anywhere, including a classroom, gym, home or ballpark, and the person who needs help may be someone you know and love,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “That is why it is so important to give young people the knowledge and confidence to act.” Brown added that students learned they do not have to be health care professionals to make a lifesaving difference. “By recognizing a cardiac emergency, calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest, they can become a critical link in the chain of survival.”
The event also featured personal testimony from Kristen Walenga, a Chicago-area sudden cardiac arrest survivor whose life was saved when her then 15-year-old son provided CPR after an American Heart Association training through his school. Walenga is a member of the inaugural Nation of Lifesavers Class, a dedicated group of CPR survivors and rescuers, and shares her story to help more people feel confident about taking action.
The training aligns with the association's broader strategy of promoting Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and expanding CPR education through schools, sports organizations, and community leaders. Since 2023, the association has collaborated with Major League Baseball on this work. “We're proud to support organizations that empower young people to make a positive difference in the lives of others,” said White Sox senior Vice President of Community Relations Christine O'Reilly. “Bringing that learning to Rate Field adds a memorable experience to an important lesson that these students can carry with them well beyond the ballpark.”
The event was held ahead of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, the organization's flagship scientific meeting and one of the world's leading cardiovascular conferences, taking place in Chicago from Nov. 7-9. The meeting convenes researchers, clinicians, health care leaders, volunteers and partners to share breakthrough science and advance cardiovascular care.
Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival. By bringing CPR education to a setting rooted in sports and teamwork, the event reinforced a simple message: anyone, including a student, can take action when every second counts. To learn Hands-Only CPR and find resources to help schools, workplaces or communities prepare for a cardiac emergency, visit heart.org/nation.
