Success Stories

CPaRlington Initiative

The CPaRlington campaign is a collaborative effort involving the City of Arlington and the University of Texas at Arlington. Community partners include American Medical Response, the American Heart Association, the Arlington Independent School District, the Texas Rangers, and Arlington Rotary Clubs. 

Fire Department of New York

The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) was the first program to use Family & Friends CPR Anytime. FDNY introduced the program to students attending the FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety and to students attending Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. In May, the department introduced the program to community and service groups. FDNY members are providing traditional Family & Friends CPR training in various neighborhood settings such as community centers, places of worship and community boards. FDNY, working together with the American Heart Association, is committed to helping save lives by increasing community CPR training throughout New York City.

Honolulu, Hawaii

In August 2005, the American Heart Association in Honolulu County conducted a preview pilot event for Family & Friends CPR Anytime called “CPR Ohana.” About 300 kits were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, one per family. Local television and radio stations and newspapers helped promote the preview event.

In fiscal year 2004-05, more than 54,000 in Hawaii were trained during traditional CPR courses. With CPR Anytime, the association predicts that the number of people trained in CPR will more than double. Thanks to a grant from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, more than 500 CPR Anytime kits are being provided to Hawaii residents free of charge.

Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs), California - Institute of Critical Care Medicine

The Institute of Critical Care Medicine, a nonprofit education and research center in Palm Springs, California, has received a $565,000, two-year grant from the Desert Health Care District to help increase the local save rate for cardiac arrest victims by 25 percent. The institute is distributing CPR Anytime kits in shopping malls, senior centers, schools, civic organizations, religious centers and libraries. The ultimate goal is to train up to 30,000 residents, many of whom are older retirees.  The institute is maintaining a comprehensive database for confirmation and to evaluate the progress and ultimately the success of this unique project.