American Heart Association American Heart Month
You Are the First Responder
Save an adult with Hands-Only CPR
Salvar un Adulto con RCP Solo con las Manos
American Heart Month Resources
This American Heart Month the message is clear: anyone can save a life. In every cardiac emergency, the real first responder is not always a uniformed professional but often a friend, family member or even a stranger nearby. Ordinary people have extraordinary power. You are the first responder until professional help arrives. Join the Nation of Lifesavers by learning CPR today and check out the free resources in our 2026 American Heart Month Toolkit.
How American Heart Month Sparked a Lifesaving Movement
From the first CPR training in 1960 to today’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, American Heart Month has always been about action. In the early ’60s, AHA‑supported scientists proved that combining breaths with chest compressions could restart a heart—launching modern CPR and doubling or even tripling survival for cardiac arrest. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed February American Heart Month, turning the fight against heart disease into a national priority. With CPR formally endorsed soon after and public education campaigns on heart attack signs taking off in the ’70s, American Heart Month became a rallying point to help more people recognize emergencies, respond quickly and save lives.
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Join the Nation of Lifesavers
You could be the difference between life and death for someone experiencing a cardiac event. Be ready to act by learning CPR.
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Go Red!
Go red to help raise awareness of the No. 1 killer of people in the U.S., cardiovascular disease.
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Volunteer
Become a volunteer to help us create a healthier world free of heart disease and stroke.