Cardiac arrest takes 436,000 lives in America each year, according to the American Heart Association.

What You Need To Know

  • 436,000 people die from cardiac arrest every year, according to the American Heart Association

  • Socioeconomic vulnerability is the strongest predictor of cardiac arrest mortality, per the Journal of the AHA

  • CPR Anytime training kits are $45 each

Body type, genetics or diet have the greatest impact of cardiac arrest vulnerability.

The Journal of the American Heart Association says “socioeconomic vulnerability was the strongest predictor of cardiac arrest mortality."

For CPR and AED Awareness Week, St. Joseph’s Health and the American Heart Association are meeting marginalized communities where they are to help prepare for cardiac emergencies with the donation of CPR Anytime training kits later today.

“Places where people typically learn CPR are in places like firehouses or in hospitals or in American Red Cross centers that they don't have the transportation to get there," says Christine Vona, a registered nurse for St. Joseph's Health. "Or sometimes it costs money to take these classes, which they don’t have. So giving them these kits for free and giving them the resources so they know how to use these is going to help and elevate the accessibility for this community.”

Those kits, which usually cost $45 each, will be distributed for free at St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center-West at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

St Joseph’s Health adds that nearly three of every four cardiac arrests outside of the hospital happen in homes, so knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. There will also be hands-on CPR demonstrations.