The American Heart Association, in recognition of Pride Month, is encouraging members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to learn Hands-Only CPR, emphasizing that the skill could save the life of someone they love. The initiative, part of the Association's Pride With Heart program, aims to address disparities in cardiovascular health and emergency response among LGBTQ+ individuals.
According to the American Heart Association, research shows that experiences related to stigma, discrimination and chronic stress can influence long-term cardiovascular health. A scientific statement from the Association on cardiovascular health for transgender and gender diverse people calls for improved training, systems and culturally responsive care to better support the LGBTQ+ community across their lifespan. The Pride With Heart initiative highlights the importance of both community empowerment and access to care.
Each year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and 9 out of 10 people don't survive, often because help doesn't arrive fast enough. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival, yet many bystanders hesitate to act or don't know what to do.
"More than 20 million LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. face higher risks to their heart health, influenced by both clinical and social drivers of health," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. "By learning Hands-Only CPR and encouraging others to do the same, communities can help close gaps in emergency response and ensure more people are prepared to act when it matters most."
Hands-Only CPR is easy to learn and remember. It involves two simple steps: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute until help arrives.
To learn Hands-Only CPR, visit heart.org/cpr. To find a CPR course near you, visit cpr.heart.org. More information about the Pride With Heart initiative is available at heart.org.
Year-round, the Association stands with the LGBTQ+ community by funding innovative research, advocating for public health and sharing lifesaving resources like CPR education and training. Additional resources include the scientific statement on cardiovascular health for transgender and gender diverse individuals and CPR facts and statistics.
