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Be The Beat

Bring the lifesaving impact of CPR to our communities and our homes.

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Black or Hispanic adults who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting are substantially less likely to receive lifesaving care from a bystander. The American Heart Association is working to change this by empowering members of these communities to learn lifesaving Hands-Only CPR. During Black History Month and in conjunction with American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is encouraging people to “Be The Beat” for and in their communities by challenging every household or family to have at least one person who knows Hands-Only CPR.

Learn Hands-Only CPR to be the difference and save a life.

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.

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Damar Hamlin
FACT: Women, Black, Hispanic and Latino people are less likely to receive bystander CPR.
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.

Nearly 3
out of 4

cardiac arrests that happen outside a hospital happen at home.

Take 90 seconds

to learn how to save a life.
Be The Beat

The American Heart Association recognized Black American changemakers with the National Impact With Heart Awards during Black History Month.

A look at that night

The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, celebrated the contributions of Black American community catalysts and changemakers nationwide with its inaugural Impact With Heart Awards. The event at the Long Gallery Harlem in New York City acknowledged the transformative work being done at the local level nationwide to improve the lives of Black Americans and communities of color.

The awards honored the specific contributions of two community leaders who have powered the delivery of community-based solutions that shift the health inequity paradigm, remove barriers to health equity and, ultimately, serve the Black community and other communities of color. The 2023 awardees are Charles Daniels, PhD, founder and CEO of Fathers’ UpLift, which provides mental health counseling, coaching and advocacy to assist fathers in Boston, overcome barriers that prevent them from remaining engaged in their children's lives; and Brittany Young, founder of B-360, whose mission is to use dirt bike culture in Baltimore to end the cycle of poverty, disrupt the prison pipeline and build bridges in communities.

During Black History Month and in conjunction with American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is encouraging people to “Be The Beat” for and in their communities by challenging every household or family to have at least one person who knows Hands-Only CPR.

arranged on top a black brick background are the words "Impact with Heart" in gold and the Be The Beat and American Heart Association logos to the left of a colorful painted portrait by James Terrell of a Black woman in a gold frame titled, "Embrace Yourself (Self Love)" (2017)
a professional photo of Pamela Garmon Johnson, a Black woman smiling and standing with arms crossed, wearing a navy blazer and blue and white striped blouse

Color, Coronavirus, Cardiovascular Disease and the Importance of CPR

African Americans become proactive in heart health post-pandemic.

Read this impactful article in the Chicago Crusader

Be The Beat: David Thompson | Former NFL player David Thompson shares how Damar Hamlin’s injury should motivate everyone to “Be the Beat” and learn Hands-Only CPR. If you are called on to perform CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent, or a friend.

head shot of Sybil Wilkes, a Black woman smiling and wearing a black top and a silver necklace

Check In & Check Up for Your Health with Sybil Wilkes

NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCING SOON

Don’t miss this! Sybil Wilkes calls on community partners to inform and empower the African American community for better health.

 

Check in and see what’s coming up

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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 determinants of health

Committing to equity and a full, healthy life for everyone

The American Heart Association is investing over $230 million in a sweeping effort to ensure equitable health for all. Through research, community solutions and other substantial work, the AHA is addressing barriers to health equity including structural racism, social factors that hurt people’s health and threats to rural health.

EmPOWERED to Serve™ Read about the AHA’s commitment to health equity