American Heart Association Heartful Unity
This Black History Month, let's come together with heartful unity. Be a lifesaver that unites our community in the shared mission of promoting heart health and saving lives through CPR and AED training.
While meaningful progress continues in reducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health disparities, Black communities in the United States still face disproportionately higher rates of heart disease, stroke and hypertension. These persistent gaps contribute to significantly higher mortality rates, underscoring the urgent need for sustained, community-centered intervention. The American Heart Association is calling for renewed action to close the survival gap through education, advocacy and learning Hands-Only CPR. Our mission remains clear: ensuring that every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Only 46%
of people who suffer from cardiac arrest receive CPR from a bystander. CPR is 41% less likely if the person is Black or Hispanic.
About 90%
of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die.
CPR, especially if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
CPR, especially if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
Take 60 seconds
to learn how to save a life.
Learn Hands-Only CPR
Learn Hands-Only CPR
Why is learning CPR important for Black Americans?
Black Americans have the highest incidence of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital and are significantly less likely to survive.
Cardiac arrest in Black neighborhoods is associated with alarmingly low treatment and survival rates and studies have shown lower rates of both bystander CPR and bystander AED use in these neighborhoods. We need to change this trajectory.
Conditions Impacting Black Americans
High Blood Pressure Among Black People
High blood pressure is a silent killer, often being more severe in Black people than in other ethnic groups, but it is largely treatable!
Take Damar Hamlin’s #3forHeart™ CPR Challenge ❤️
CPR saves lives. Be the beat by joining Damar's simple CPR challenge to help save lives today.
We’re investing in community-led solutions
Capital access and investment funds focused on communities, small businesses, social entrepreneurs, innovators and students impacting the social drivers of health
Committing to a full, healthy life for everyone
The American Heart Association is investing more than $230 million in a sweeping effort to ensure equitable health for all. Through research, community-driven solutions and other major initiatives, the AHA is addressing barriers that limit people’s ability to live healthy lives including structural racism, social factors that influence health, and challenges facing rural communities.
The Legacy Series
With the Black History Month Legacy Series, we’re honoring the men and women who’ve inspired our work to advance health and transform lives every day. Join us in celebrating their vision, resilience and achievements. Scroll to learn about Black heart health innovators.
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Dr. Myra Adele Logan
The first woman to perform open-heart surgery, who later conducted groundbreaking research in antibiotics and breast cancer. She later became the first Black female fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Her research led to groundbreaking antibiotic therapies and more accurate diagnostic tests for breast cancer. -
Dr. Joycelyn Elders
A pediatrician and public health administrator who became the first Black and second female U.S. Surgeon General. She has been a prominent voice on public health, preventive health care and health education. -
Dr. William Montague Cobb
The first Black American to earn a doctorate in physical anthropology. Dr. Cobb fought racism with science and trained more than 6.000 physicians as a professor at Howard University. -
Elizabeth Odilile Ofili
The first female president of the Association of Black Cardiologists. She is a renowned researcher focused on improving health disparities facing women and the Black community. She was instrumental in implementing new practice guidelines for the treatment of heart failure in Black patients. -
Otis Boykin
An inventor and electrical engineer whose innovations included electrical resistors used in computing and a control unit for the artificial pacemaker. His inspiring accomplishments are a reminder that we each can be the progress that ensures longer, healthier lives for all. -
Dr. Josephine Isabel-Jones
Born in the segregated South, Dr. Isabel-Jones decided to be a pediatrician at the age of 8. She earned a scholarship from Alpha Kappa Alpha, a historically Black Greek-letter organization. One of only four women to graduate from Meharry Medical College, she became the first African American resident at the University of Tennessee and the first African American woman board-certified in pediatric cardiology in the U.S. -
Vivien Thomas
A laboratory supervisor who overcame poverty and racism to become a cardiac surgery pioneer. He co-developed the Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt procedure to correct congenital heart defects. In 1976, Johns Hopkins University presented him with an honorary doctorate. However, because of restrictions, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws, instead of an MD. He was later appointed as a surgery instructor at the school. -
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
The first Black physician to successfully perform open-heart surgery in the United States and the first African American physician admitted to the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Williams founded a hospital with an interracial staff at a time when Black doctors weren’t allowed to practice in white hospitals. He was also a co-founder of the National Medical Association.