Join heart advocates from around the United States in the movement to help spread awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and how to save lives with CPR and AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in recognition of National CPR-AED Awareness Week June 1-7.
The Third Nationwide CPR-AED Awareness Rally & March, led by cardiac arrest survivor Ed Kosiec of Every Second Counts CPR, is scheduled for Friday, June 2 - Saturday, June 3 in Washington, D.C. It will take place in the northwest quadrant of the Washington Monument.
“Our goal is to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of immediate CPR and treatment with AEDs,” said Kosiec. “We will also highlight legislation that can help save lives.”
Kosiec was motivated to spearhead the march and rally after he was resuscitated at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Florida in 2019 by a student who had been trained in CPR in high school. Since then, he has traveled throughout the lower 48 to promote awareness and lifesaving training.
To prepare for the march and rally, Kosiec reached out to Mayor Muriel Bowser, who started the “Hands on Hearts” campaign through DC Fire & EMS in 2015, pledging to train 5,000 residents each year in D.C. As of September 2022, 88,000 people have been trained. “With the right training,” she had said, “Anyone can save a life.”
Schedule
On Friday, the march from the Northwest quadrant of the Washington Monument to the Senate side of the Capitol is scheduled for 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. The rally in front of the White House is scheduled for 2:00 – 4:00 pm. CPR-AED demonstrations will be available from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
On Saturday, CPR-AED demonstrations will be provided in the Northwest quadrant of the Washington Monument from 9 am – 6 pm by Hands on Hearts/D.C. Fire & EMS and other participating organizations.
Participating Organizations
The annual event continues to attract collaborators. This year, participating organizations and programs include AED Team, American Heart Association, Call-Push-Shock, Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance, Citizen CPR Foundation, Coastal Emergency Medical Skills, Hands on Hearts/D.C. Fire & EMS, Heart for Athletes, Heart-Charged, Heart and Soul, Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation, Lion Heart Heroes Foundation, Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation, Matt’s Mission, Michael Abt., Jr. Have A Heart Foundation, Parent Heart Watch, Peyton Walker Foundation, Prestan, PulsePoint, Push Health & Safety Services, LLC, RescueOne, RescueStat, SaveStation, Simon’s Heart, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, Sudden Cardiac-Death Awareness Research Foundation, Surviving SCA, Who We Play For, WorldPoint, and ZOLL.
To register for the event, click here.