In celebration of February as American Heart Month, content creators across the country are streaming on TikTok LIVE to be the beat and teach viewers about Hands-Only CPR. Creators supporting the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, are trying to reach the goal of 1 million TikTok viewers learning this lifesaving skill. More than 350,000 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year yet only 10% survive.[1] Performing CPR can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.
Every Tuesday and Thursday through February 28, content creators like Da'Ron Burgundy _) are setting up livestream fundraisers to further the work of the American Heart Association. Burgundy – whose platform typically focuses on livestream tours of Los Angeles - hosted a livestream on February 16 to teach Hands-Only CPR to viewers and raised more than $5,000 for the Association.
"My mother was personally impacted by heart disease, so this has given me the opportunity to honor her while educating others about the No. 1 killer in the world," said Burgundy. "I look forward to continue working with the American Heart Association and seeing how we can, together, impact and save lives."
While the majority of participating creators will host livestream events online, heart survivor and American Heart Association advocate JT Laybourne (@) is also holding an in-person event in Minneapolis on February 25. Fans around the world can join via , as JT, co-host Polly Boghosian (@), and other special guests share personal stories of survival, while encouraging participants to learn Hands-Only CPR and support the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.
"I'm incredibly grateful that I have been given the opportunity to use my platform to do good," said JT Laybourne. "As a heart survivor, I just want to give back and the American Heart Association is the perfect organization to help me do that in a meaningful way that will touch more lives than we could possibly imagine."
The livestream events are a part of the Association's newest online outreach initiative known as American Heart Association Liive (pronounced like "līve", as in hive) which provides content creators on various social platforms like , and the opportunity to connect with one another in support of a cause. American Heart Association Liive was created to give creators a space to inspire their community of followers to live heart healthy and invite donations that fuel work to change health outcomes. Funds raised through this initiative help the American Heart Association fund lifesaving research, advocate for healthier communities, improve patient care and drive equitable health in communities across the nation.
"It's exciting to see a new generation of fundraisers use their skills and networks to help spread our lifesaving mission" said Raymond Vara, volunteer chairman of the board of the American Heart Association and president and CEO of Hawai'i Pacific Health in Honolulu, Hawai'i. "During Heart Month and all year long, streamers who support American Heart Association Liive are helping move the needle as we continue the fight against heart disease and stroke."
