June 1-7 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Disaster Survival Skills and Online CPR Skills want everyone to know that every second counts in cardiac arrest emergencies and that you can make a difference. You can save lives by learning how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs. More than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest annually in the United States, but sadly only about 1 in 10 survive. For every minute without immediate CPR and use of an AED, survival chances drop as much as 10 percent. That is exactly why bystander CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival.
What to do when someone collapses
If you see someone collapse without warning, take immediate action with these three steps, straight from the single Chain of Survival reaffirmed in the American Heart Association’s 2025 Guidelines:
- Call 911.
- Start CPR.
- Use an AED. (If available)
Not sure about that last step? Read our step-by-step guide to using an AED; these machines are designed so anyone can use them.
Learn to be a hero.
Whether you are a healthcare worker, a workplace responder or a member of the public, Disaster Survival Skills provides several ways to become trained. From in-person classes to online, or even blended (an online course with an in-person hands-on skills session). All our training courses satisfy requirements set by OSHA and the American Heart Association. Check with your employer as to what class you need if you are taking training to fulfill a job requirement or business needs. Disaster Survival Skills carries a full line of emergency disaster supplies and first aid supplies.
Our free OnlineCPRSkills.com training provides users with instant access to CPR and AED training for adults, children and infants, including a complete first aid course. Learn in English or Spanish about sudden cardiac arrest, performing CPR and other emergencies.
Train safely, effectively, and confidently. The health and safety of course participants and instructors are always our top priority, with remote-friendly training solutions and easy access to on-demand learning.
In the moments that matter, be the help until help arrives.
