OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 8, 2025 — Emergencies don’t wait — and when a heart stops, it’s the people nearby who start the chain of survival. On World Restart a Heart Day Oct. 16, the American Heart Association and MidFirst Bank are urging Oklahomans to take action by learning hands-only CPR and becoming part of the Nation of Lifesavers™.
As part of the initiative to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030, the American Heart Association and MidFirst Bank have joined forces to offer a hands-only CPR training kiosk at Science Museum Oklahoma. The interactive kiosk, funded by MidFirst Bank, allows visitors to learn and practice CPR in about five minutes.
“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time,” said Steven Griffin, senior vice president of MidFirst Bank and chairman of the American Heart Association-OKC board of directors. “There are countless lives in Oklahoma City that can be saved when bystanders are confident and ready to perform CPR. The kiosk is a convenient, accessible way to learn a lifesaving skill.”
The kiosk features a touch screen with a video tutorial, a practice session, and a 30-second test using a manikin that provides real-time feedback on compression depth, rate and hand placement — all critical factors in effective CPR.
Each year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and nearly 90% of those cases are fatal. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. Yet, less than half of Americans feel confident performing CPR in an emergency.
“There are over 280,000 households in Oklahoma City, and we want at least one person in every household to learn CPR by 2030,” said Mark Fried, executive director of the American Heart Association-OKC. “Imagine the impact if every home had someone ready to act in a cardiac emergency.”
World Restart a Heart Day is a global call to action to empower families, schools, workplaces and communities to create cardiac emergency response plans and ensure more people are trained in CPR and AED use. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to join the Nation of Lifesavers by:
- Visiting the CPR kiosk at Science Museum Oklahoma
- Taking an online CPR course
- Learning and practicing with a CPR Anytime® Training Kit
- Watching a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR
- Finding a Heartsaver™ certification course nearby
- Advocating for cardiac emergency response plans in schools and workplaces
To learn more or join the Nation of Lifesavers, visit www.heart.org/nation.
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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 a 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
Cyd King: cyd.king@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
