Sudden cardiac arrest kills hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, often because bystanders don't know how to respond. On June 4, the Red Sox Foundation and the American Heart Association transformed Fenway Park into a lifesaving training ground, equipping an invited 400 people with Hands-Only CPR skills following the Red Sox–Orioles game. Youth athletes, coaches, educators, healthcare advocates and community leaders gathered in the outfield to participate in an immersive Hands-Only CPR training designed to equip bystanders with the confidence and skills to respond during a sudden cardiac arrest emergency. The event, held during National CPR and AED Awareness Week - June 1-7, highlighted the critical importance of CPR education and reinforced the vital role bystanders play in improving survival outcomes during cardiac emergencies.
"We are deeply grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this lifesaving effort to Fenway Park. By uniting hundreds of people on the field during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, this effort not only raises awareness but equips individuals with the confidence to act when every second matters," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "Events like this remind us of the power of community—when bystanders are trained and ready, they can turn a critical moment into a lifesaving one. Together, we are building a nation of lifesavers and advancing our shared commitment to longer, healthier lives."
Earlier in the day, the Red Sox Foundation and American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, hosted a panel discussion focused on heart health, emergency response preparedness, and the importance of bystander intervention. The discussion, moderated by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., founder of Ajenda- a multimedia women's health and wellness company, and American Heart Association board member, featured Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association; 2018 Red Sox World Series Champion Brock Holt; Angel City FC defender and cardiac arrest survivor Savy King; and local cardiac arrest survivor and lifesaver duo Marc Henderson and Jim McQuade.
"At the Red Sox Foundation, we believe strengthening our communities means investing in the health, safety and well-being of the people who call them home," said Bekah Salwasser, executive director of the Red Sox Foundation and executive vice president of social impact for the Boston Red Sox. "Providing access to lifesaving education like Hands-Only CPR is one of the many ways we work to create lasting impact beyond the ballpark. We're grateful to the American Heart Association for their collaboration in bringing this important initiative to life to help advance emergency preparedness in our communities. Bringing 400 people together at Fenway Park to learn these critical skills reflects our commitment to empowering individuals to step in during an emergency and help save lives."
"Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby is prepared to act in those first critical moments," said Ashton. "Expanding access to CPR education is one of the most important ways we can strengthen public health and save lives. Seeing hundreds of people gathered across the Fenway Park outfield learning these lifesaving skills sent a powerful message about the impact communities can have when education, awareness and action come together."
By completing the training, participants officially joined the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™, a global movement launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football™. Since its launch, the initiative has focused on expanding CPR education, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and building confidence to act in an emergency through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition. The MLB (Major League Baseball) is a founding member of the Coalition and the Heart Association will offer Hands-Only CPR skills to fans attending the All-Star Village in Philadelphia, July 11-14.
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals each year in the U.S., and about 90% are fatal, often because CPR isn't performed soon enough. To break the myth that CPR requires special training, the Heart Association emphasizes that Hands‑Only CPR for teens and adults has just two steps:
- Call 911
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100–120 beats per minute — roughly the rhythm of "Stayin' Alive" or "Uptown Funk and to a depth of approximately two inches.
