Michigan schools partner with American Heart Association to teach students lifesaving CPR
With hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, Michigan schools are empowering a new generation of first responders: the students themselves.
GRAND RAPIDS — With hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, Michigan schools are empowering a new generation of first responders: the students themselves.
Through the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs, schools across the state are integrating lifesaving emergency training into the classroom. The service-learning initiatives equip students, families, and educators with practical skills to respond during sudden cardiac or neurological crises, including how to call 911, administer Hands-Only CPR, and identify stroke symptoms using the B.E. F.A.S.T. warning system.
Nationwide, more than 350,000 individuals suffer cardiac arrest outside hospital settings annually, including roughly 23,000 children. Because immediate intervention is critical before emergency medical services arrive, bystanders — often peers, teachers, or relatives — play a pivotal role in survival rates.
"When a medical emergency happens outside of a hospital, the person most likely to save a life is almost never a doctor. It’s simply whoever is close by," said Amanda Peterson, senior development director for school engagement with the American Heart Association in West Michigan.
"That could be a coach, a parent or a kid who called 911, started CPR or recognized the signs of a stroke. We want everyone to know they have the power to save a life and be a heart hero."
Peterson noted that bystander training is particularly critical in rural regions of Michigan, where geographic distances can lead to extended response times for emergency vehicles.
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Since 2021, the two programs have reached over 1.1 million participants nationally. Alongside emergency readiness, the curriculum emphasizes preventative health and mental wellness. Operating under this year’s "Activate Your Heart Power" theme, the program incorporates interactive tools to encourage daily physical activity, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and tobacco and vaping avoidance.
Participating schools also gain access to community health grants, CPR instructional kits, educator training tools, and direct funding to bolster local wellness infrastructure. Registration for Michigan schools is currently open for the 2026-7 academic year.
— Submitted by the American Heart Association. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
