Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

June1–7

National CPR and AED Awareness Week – June 1-7, 2025

National CPR and AED Awareness Week runs from June 1 to 7 and aims to stress the importance of these actions to as many people as possible. Learning and mastering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) techniques and automated external defibrillator (A.E.D.) use so that they can become lifelines for those who have experienced sudden medical emergencies is an honorable thing to do. The campaign also places importance on the actions of bystanders in helping deal with such emergencies, and the knowledge of these methods.

History of National CPR and AED Awareness Week

National CPR and AED Awareness Week was first initiated in 2007, following a partnership between the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the National Safety Council to highlight the importance of learning C.P.R. and A.E.D. techniques to save lives.

Knowing C.P.R. techniques or how to properly use A.E.D.s can be the difference between life and death for those who have experienced sudden medical emergencies. It only takes up to four to six minutes without oxygen for the brain to experience damage, therefore the time of response, and proper execution of these measures, are crucial in potentially saving many lives around the world. Both actions should be performed only if a patient is proven to be non-responsive and stopped breathing.

C.P.R. and A.E.D.s are useful in helping people who have suffered ailments such as cardiac arrests, asthma attacks, diabetes, strokes, and allergic reactions. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation notes that up to 356,000 cardiac arrests happen in the U.S. annually, with 90% of them fatal, and can take place anywhere, meaning that the more people who know C.P.R. are around, the better. Several states have also made it mandatory for workplaces to have A.E.D.s around for possible emergencies.

Waiting for emergency medical service workers (E.M.S.) to arrive at the scene and deal with the matter will take time. If you or someone around you knows C.P.R. or how to operate a defibrillator, it can make an important difference for the patient. You would be surprised at the willingness of strangers to come help when someone is experiencing a medical emergency, and you can be one of them. It’s never pleasant seeing someone at the cusp of death, and so, the actions of C.P.R.-trained individuals can help prevent emergencies from getting worse. All it takes is a willingness to learn how.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week timeline

1930
The Defibrillator is Invented

The first A.E.D. machine is invented by William Kouwenhoven.

1956
The Mouth-to-Mouth Technique

Peter Safar and James Elam comes up with the first mouth-to-mouth resuscitation technique, which develops into the modern C.P.R. method in 1960.

1972
A Mass C.P.R. Training Event

American doctor Leonard Cobb holds the first mass civilian C.P.R. training event in Seattle, teaching the C.P.R. technique to 100,000 people in the program's first two years.

2007
National CPR and AED Week Becomes Official

The U.S. Congress officially declares June 1 to June 7 National CPR and AED Awareness Week, following a suggestion from the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the National Safety Council.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week FAQs

How many times do you perform C.P.R. before an A.E.D. is required?

One C.P.R. cycle comprises 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths, with one cycle taking around two minutes. An A.E.D. is required if no response has been given after five cycles. After the A.E.D. is used, continue this process again until either help arrives or if the A.E.D. successfully restores the heart rhythm.

At what rate do you do C.P.R.?

Chest compressions should be done at 100 to 120 beats per minute. Songs such as the Bee Gees’ ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ are widely accepted to have the perfect tempo required for C.P.R.

When should you start administering C.P.R.?

Immediately. Cardiac arrest takes very little time to completely affect the patient, so the small window of time it takes between the attack and C.P.R. administration is crucial. When both C.P.R. and an A.E.D. are used, the cardiac arrest survival rate can improve.

How to Observe National CPR and AED Awareness Week

  1. Learn the technique

    You can make a difference by learning the C.P.R. technique yourself. The American Red Cross frequently holds C.P.R. training sessions for those who are interested, and the more people that know C.P.R., the more lives can be saved.

  2. Post important information on your socials

    Tell your friends and family about National CPR and AED Awareness Week by posting about the campaign on your social media. Instructional posts on C.P.R. and A.E.D. use are also valuable in spreading the word.

  3. Buy a defibrillator

    If you know someone in your home who is at risk of sudden medical emergencies, having a portable defibrillator nearby would help prevent such situations from getting worse. It may not be the cheapest appliance to buy, but its benefits outweigh the cost.

5 Important Facts About Cardiac Arrest

  1. Time is of the essence

    A.E.D. usage within the first three minutes of sudden cardiac arrest increases the survival rate by over 80%.

  2. The abnormal heart rhythm

    Ventricular fibrillation (V.F.) is the name of the abnormal heart rhythm that usually triggers cardiac arrest.

  3. It is a serious killer

    Cardiac arrest globally claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, influenza, pneumonia, and influenza combined.

  4. The main differences

    The difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest is that a heart attack happens when the blood flow to the heart is blocked, while cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating.

  5. It can happen to anyone

    Anyone of any age can experience sudden cardiac arrest, with up to 2,000 people under the age of 25 dying each year in the United States because of it.

Why National CPR and AED Awareness Week is Important

  1. It raises awareness

    National CPR and AED Awareness Week highlights the importance of knowing C.P.R. techniques and proper defibrillator use. Both techniques, when applied properly, have proven to save many lives over the years.

  2. It spreads knowledge about C.P.R.

    Because the month-long campaign focuses on C.P.R. knowledge, it can help increase the number of people who know C.P.R. The campaign can help inspire more people to learn C.P.R., be it by themselves or by attending training sessions.

  3. It highlights community spirit

    National CPR and AED Awareness Week also highlights the importance of bystander actions when dealing with an emergency nearby. If a stranger near you is experiencing cardiac arrest or any kind of similar ailment, it is the duty of those around them to help them if they know how to. Doing so will help foster better relations within communities.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week dates

Year Date Day
2025 June 1 Sunday
2026 June 1 Monday
2027 June 1 Tuesday
2028 June 1 Thursday
2029 June 1 Friday
June
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
Bed Bug Awareness Week
Bed Bug Awareness Week
Community Health Improvement Week
Community Health Improvement Week
End Mountain Top Removal Week
National Business Etiquette Week
National Business Etiquette Week
National CPR and AED Awareness Week
National Garden Week
National Headache Awareness Week
National Headache Awareness Week
RSPCA Week
Step Parents Week
Volunteers' Week
Dare Day
Don't Give up the Ship Day
Erev Shavuot
Flip A Coin Day
Gawai Dayak
Global Day of Parents
Intergenerational Day
International Children's Day
Madaraka Day
National Barefoot Day
National Billboard Day
National Cancer Survivors Day
National Hazelnut Cake Day
National Heimlich Maneuver Day
National Nail Polish Day
National Olive Day
National Pen Pal Day
National Skincare Education Day
New Year's Resolution Recommitment Day
Oscar the Grouch Day
Samoa Independence Day
Say Something Nice Day
Shavuot
Stand For Children Day
Statehood Day in Kentucky
Statehood Day in Tennessee
Wear a Dress Day
World Milk Day
World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day
World Outlander Day
World Reef Awareness Day
African American Appreciation Month
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Awareness Month
Aphasia Awareness Month
Audiobook Month
Beautiful in Your Skin Month
Black Lives Matter Month
Black Music Month
Cancer from the Sun Month
Caribbean-American Heritage Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Celibacy Awareness Month
Child Vision Awareness Month
Children's Awareness Month
CMV Awareness Month
Cucumber Month
Effective Communications Month
Entrepreneurs "Do it Yourself" Marketing Month
Fight the Filthy Fly Month
Fireworks Eye Safety Month
Fireworks Safety Month
Georgia Blueberry Month
Great Outdoors Month
Infertility Awareness Month
International Surf Music Month
Lane Courtesy Month
Mango Month
Men's Health Month
Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
National Accordion Awareness Month
National Adopt A Cat Month
National Camping Month
National Candy Month
National Country Cooking Month
National Dairy Month
National DJ Month
National Foster a Pet Month
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
National Frozen Yogurt Month
National Give a Bunch of Balloons Month
National Homeownership Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Lemon Month
National Microchipping Month
National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
National Oceans Month
National Osteoporosis Month
National Pet Preparedness Month
National Pollinator Month
National PTSD Awareness Month
National Rivers Month
National Rose Month
National Safety Month
National Scoliosis Awareness Month
National Soul Food Month
National Steakhouse Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month
Oral Health Month
Perennial Gardening Month
Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month
Pluot & Aprium Month
Potty Training Awareness Month
Pride Month
Pride Month
Professional Wellness Month
Rebuild Your Life Month
Scleroderma Awareness Month
Skyscraper Month
Social Petworking Month
Sports America Kids Month
Turkey Lovers Month
Vision Research Month
We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty
Women’s Golf Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.