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October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, aimed at educating the public about warning signs, risk factors, and how to respond in a cardiac emergency. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to take a CPR and AED course to be prepared to save a life when every minute counts.

Each year, over 350,000 people in the U.S. experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and about 90% do not survive. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops due to abnormal electrical activity. Immediate bystander CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, and more than 70% of these emergencies occur at home.

On Oct. 16, the Red Cross will join the global World Restart a Heart initiative to raise awareness and teach hands-only CPR to increase bystander intervention.

Last year, over 6.6 million people sought Red Cross training in First Aid, CPR, and AED skills. Training builds the confidence to act when it matters most. The Red Cross First Aid app, available in app stores or via Alexa, provides instant guidance for emergencies.