Red Sox Foundation and American Heart Association Train 400 in Hands-Only CPR at Fenway Park

BOSTON — On June 4, the Red Sox Foundation and the American Heart Association transformed Fenway Park into a lifesaving training ground, equipping 400 invited participants with Hands-Only CPR skills following the Red Sox–Orioles game. The event, held during National CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1-7), highlighted the critical importance of CPR education and the vital role bystanders play in improving survival outcomes during cardiac emergencies.

Sudden cardiac arrest kills hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, often because bystanders don’t know how to respond. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals annually, and about 90% are fatal, frequently because CPR isn’t performed soon enough. To address this, the American Heart Association emphasizes that Hands-Only CPR for teens and adults has just two steps: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100–120 beats per minute—roughly the rhythm of “Stayin’ Alive” or “Uptown Funk”—to a depth of approximately two inches.

“We are deeply grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this lifesaving effort to Fenway Park,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “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.”

Earlier in the day, a panel discussion moderated by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., founder of Ajenda and American Heart Association board member, featured 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 lifesaver duo Marc Henderson and Jim McQuade. The discussion focused on heart health, emergency response preparedness, and the importance of bystander intervention.

“At the Red Sox Foundation, we believe strengthening our communities means investing in the health, safety and well-being of the people who call them home,” said Bekah Salwasser, executive director of the Red Sox Foundation and executive vice president of social impact for the Boston Red Sox. “Providing access to lifesaving education like Hands-Only CPR is one of the many ways we work to create lasting impact beyond the ballpark.”

By completing the training, participants officially joined the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football. The initiative focuses on expanding CPR education, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and building confidence to act in an emergency through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition. MLB is a founding member of the Coalition, and the Heart Association will offer Hands-Only CPR skills to fans attending the All-Star Village in Philadelphia from July 11-14.

The Red Sox Foundation, the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, has awarded more than 7,000 grants since 2002, focusing on improving health, education, and recreational opportunities for children, families, Veterans, and communities. For more information, visit redsoxfoundation.org.

The American Heart Association, a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by over 35 million volunteers globally, the organization funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health, and provides critical resources to save lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. Connect on heart.org.

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