At Fenway Park, 400 people participated in a Hands-Only CPR training session on June 4, organized by the Red Sox Foundation and the American Heart Association during National CPR and AED Awareness Week. The event followed a Red Sox–Orioles game and included youth athletes, coaches, educators, healthcare advocates, and community leaders who gathered in the outfield to learn lifesaving skills. Sudden cardiac arrest kills hundreds of thousands annually in the U.S., often because bystanders lack the confidence to act. This training aimed to equip individuals with the ability to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies.
“We are deeply grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this lifesaving effort to Fenway Park,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, in a statement. “By uniting hundreds of people on the field during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, this effort not only raises awareness but equips individuals with the confidence to act when every second matters.” The American Heart Association emphasizes that Hands-Only CPR for teens and adults involves two steps: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100–120 beats per minute, to a depth of approximately two inches.
Earlier in the day, a panel discussion focused on heart health and emergency response, moderated by Dr. Jennifer Ashton, founder of Ajenda and American Heart Association board member. Panelists included Nancy Brown; 2018 Red Sox World Series champion Brock Holt; Angel City FC defender and cardiac arrest survivor Savy King; and local cardiac arrest survivor and rescuer duo Marc Henderson and Jim McQuade. “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby is prepared to act in those first critical moments,” said Ashton. “Expanding access to CPR education is one of the most important ways we can strengthen public health and save lives.”
Bekah Salwasser, executive director of the Red Sox Foundation, highlighted the foundation's commitment to community health: “We believe strengthening our communities means investing in the health, safety and well-being of the people who call them home. Providing access to lifesaving education like Hands-Only CPR is one of the many ways we work to create lasting impact beyond the ballpark.” Participants who completed the training joined the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™, a global movement launched in 2023 after NFL player Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. Major League Baseball, a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, will offer Hands-Only CPR training at the All-Star Village in Philadelphia from July 11-14.
With more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the U.S., and a 90% fatality rate often due to delayed CPR, the American Heart Association stresses that bystander intervention is critical. The training at Fenway Park aimed to break the myth that CPR requires special certification, encouraging immediate action. The Red Sox Foundation, established in 2002, has awarded over 7,000 grants focusing on health, education, and recreation. More information about the foundation is available at redsoxfoundation.org. The American Heart Association continues to drive research and advocacy; details can be found at heart.org.
