The American Heart Association Just Put $1.1 Million Into Emergency Plans

On September 23, 2026, the American Heart Association announced $1.1 million in grants to community organizations putting cardiac emergency response plans in place. The money goes to 185 sites in 30 states and is expected to reach about 400,000 people.

The grants pay for three things: CPR training kits, AEDs along with their installation and upkeep, and on-site CPR instruction. It is part of the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers effort. According to the announcement, the Association helped put 794 plans in place last year, covering more than 1.6 million people, and is aiming for more than 1,000 this year.

The reasoning is simple. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside hospitals in the United States every year. Whether someone survives depends on how fast the people nearby recognize what is happening, call 911, start CPR and use an AED.

You do not need a grant to do this

The three things the grants fund are the same three things any organization needs: an AED that works, people trained to use it, and a short written plan so nobody has to improvise.

If your workplace has an AED on the wall and nobody has opened it since it was installed, start there. Check the pads and battery, then get a group trained.

Full Code CPR teaches American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED and BLS on-site for teams across the Portland metro area. Request a group quote and we will email your pricing.

Source: American Heart Association newsroom, “Cities in 30 states awarded $1.1M in grants for CPR training, cardiac emergency planning,” September 23, 2026.