SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 7, 2025 — The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health, provided Hands-Only CPR demonstrations to over 100 students at Camp Wesley, with support from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. This initiative is part of the Association's ongoing commitment to community health and education.
Camp Wesley is a summer day program for children held at Wesley Health & Wellness Center in San Antionio annually. This year, 120 campers ages 7 to 12, received first-hand experience learning Hands-Only CPR by practicing compressions on mannequins.
“We are so grateful for organizations like the American Heart Association, who devote their time to teaching our community-even the youngest members-how to feel calm and prepared in a cardiac emergency," said Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “We are thankful for this opportunity and look forward to continue working to empower people in the community to act and respond in the case of an emergency.”
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital in the United States. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. Currently, 70% of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency. CPR performed immediately can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
“These trainings help us get closer to our goal of doubling the survival rate of cardiac arrest by 2030. However, we cannot do it alone,” said Theresa Speiss, executive director of the American Heart Association San Antonio. “We depend on organizations like Methodist Healthcare Ministries to help get this vital training into the hands of our community.”
The Nation of Lifesavers movement is to turn bystanders into lifesavers, so that in the event of cardiac emergency anyone, anywhere is prepared and empowered to become a critical link in the chain of survival and provide CPR. Together we can save lives. To learn more about the American Heart Association, visit https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/texas or call
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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.
For Media Inquiries:
Reyna Caraveo,
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
