Every second counts in a cardiac emergency. As World Restart a Heart Day approaches on Oct. 16, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone, everywhere, is encouraging local residents to learn Hands-Only CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers movement.

 

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere: at home, at work, at a sporting event, or while traveling. Yet many people hesitate to act because they believe CPR can only be done by medical professionals. According to the American Heart Association, about 2 in 3 people believe only those with special training should perform CPR, a misconception that can cost lives. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. 

 

For Lowcountry resident and member of the American Heart Association’s 2026 Nation of Lifesavers Class, Philicia Baugh, learning Hands-Only CPR was much more than a training exercise. After participating in a Hands-Only CPR demonstration as a member of the Heart Association’s Go Red for Women executive leadership team, Philicia found herself in a situation where those skills helped save a life. She was traveling with family in New York City when someone she loved became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Remembering what she had learned, she directed someone to call 911 and began chest compressions. Keeping the rhythm of “Stayin’ Alive” in her head, she continued performing Hands-Only CPR for nearly 10 minutes until emergency responders arrived.

 

Emergency personnel later told Philicia that her actions were critical to her loved one’s survival.

 

“You never know when or why you might need to perform CPR,” said Philicia Baugh. “One moment of training and one decision to step in can truly save a life. I want more people to feel confident taking action because the person who needs CPR could be someone you love.”

 

World Restart a Heart Day is a global initiative dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of bystander CPR. In the United States, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital each year. Nearly 90% of those people do not survive, in part because they often do not receive immediate CPR.

 

“As World Restart a Heart Day approaches, we want everyone to understand that they can make the difference between life and death in a cardiac emergency,” said Rachael Mitchell, American Heart Association development director, Southern Coast. “You don’t have to be a medical professional to save a life. Hands-Only CPR empowers everyday people to take action when every second matters.”

 

This World Restart a Heart Day, the American Heart Association encourages everyone to:

 

To learn Hands-Only CPR and become part of the Nation of Lifesavers, visit www.heart.org/nation. For information on local American Heart Association events visit www.heart.org/georgia or www.heart.org/southcarolina.