American Heart Association

Puget Sound parents: protect your child by learning CPR

SEATTLE, May 29, 2025 — The American Heart Association says more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest each year. Nearly 40% of those are related to sports, and nearly 20% occur in infants. The Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, is calling on the everyday heroes like parents to be prepared to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), to create a community where every child has the best chance of survival in a cardiac emergency. 
 
During CPR and AED Awareness Week – June 1-7 – the American Heart Association, along with Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Seattle Children’s, is urging all Puget Sound parents to learn the lifesaving skill of CPR. 
 
“As we welcome the summer months and families make plans for getaways and outdoor activities, we urge parents to make safety a priority — including knowing CPR — which can help parents and caregivers be ready to come to the rescue of your child if a life-threatening emergency were to happen,” said Lila O’Mahony, M.D., FAAP, emergency department physician at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. 
 
More than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of a hospital every year. Unfortunately, 90% do not survive.  “You never think it would happen to your child, but when it does, you want to be ready to save their life,” said Seattle mom Jennifer DiBona. “I will never forget how helpless I felt when my 13-year-old son’s heart stopped and I didn’t know what to do.” Fortunately the 911 dispatcher guided her husband in providing CPR as they waited for emergency responders to arrive. “I am grateful for each day that I get to have with my son and he survived thanks to CPR. I urge parents to be prepared for the safety of their child.” DiBona has brushed up on her CPR skills since her son’s cardiac arrest in 2022.
 
“The most effective way to give CPR changes as a child ages, so if you haven’t had CPR training since your child was an infant, it’s probably time to brush up on those skills,” said Mjaye Mazwi, M.D., co-director of the Heart Center at Seattle Children’s. 
 
Joining the Nation of Lifesavers, an American Heart Association initiative focused on doubling the survival rate of cardiac arrest by 2030, is easier than ever with many CPR learning options available. 
 
In Puget Sound, future lifesavers can:
There are three main types of CPR: Traditional, Child and Infant and Hands-Only.
  • Traditional CPR is the method that combines chest compressions 2 inches in depth at the rate of 100-120 beats per minute with two breaths. 
  • Infant and Child CPR is similar to traditional CPR but has some key differences. Child CPR is performed with chest compressions at the depth of two inches with one or two hands, followed by two breaths.  Infant CPR is performed with chest compressions at the dept of 1 1/2 inches with two fingers, followed by two breaths and repeat.
  • Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR for adults and teens. It has been shown to be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response. The two steps to save a life with Hands-Only CPR are to call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.  
If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. The goal of the Association's Nation of Lifesavers initiative is to turn bystanders into lifesavers, so that in the face of a cardiac emergency anyone, anywhere is prepared and empowered to become a vital link in the chain of survival and provide CPR. 
 
For more information on how to join the Nation of Lifesavers, visit heart.org/nation. 
 
Additional Resources:  
 
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About the American Heart Association 
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. In Washington, visit heart.org/Washington, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X.
 
For Media Inquiries: 
Francesca Minas, Francesca.minas@heart.org 
Valerie Koch, Valerie.koch@heart.org 
 

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