Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to receive potentially life-saving CPR during cardiac arrest, according to a 2022 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that Black and Hispanic people in the U.S. were less likely than white people to receive bystander CPR during out-of-hospital cardiac events. This disparity existed even in victims’ own homes, suggesting a lack of CPR training in some communities.
The racial gap is especially concerning given that African Americans face higher cardiac risks overall. Jim Peacock, an epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health, noted that “African-American folks die of heart disease at younger ages than the national average.” Research also shows African Americans are twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac arrest and are on average six years younger when it occurs.
Steps are being taken to increase CPR training access, including free online resources from the American Heart Association. Dr. Robin Germany, a Minnesota cardiologist, emphasized the importance of CPR knowledge: “Even with very simple tools, you can help save a life.”
Cardiac arrest survivor Cheryl Jordan Winston’s husband’s quick action in performing CPR saved her life after she collapsed in 2020. Winston’s case underscores how critical immediate CPR can be in cardiac emergencies.
Efforts to address disparities include partnering with faith organizations to provide CPR training programs in underserved communities.
See “Sudden cardiac arrest survivor’s story demonstrates importance of bystander CPR” (March 15, 2024)
