As part of our commitment, select AstraZeneca employees will learn life-saving CPR and AED skills
AstraZeneca’s Survivors Have Heart program and the Philadelphia Phillies are joining forces to raise heart health awareness during tonight’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Survivors Have Heart is a national community-building movement powered by stories of heart attack survivors and their loved ones. Bob Harper – host of The Biggest Loser, best-selling author and heart attack survivor – will kick off his fifth year as a spokesperson for Survivors Have Heart by throwing a ceremonial first pitch.
Continuing its mission to support heart attack survivors through both the emotional and physical aspects of recovery, this year, Survivors Have Heart is shining a light on the life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills that saved many of its members, including Bob. AstraZeneca is providing access to American Red Cross CPR and AED training and certification to select employees and encouraging the public to participate in training sessions as well. Additionally, heart attack survivors who have participated in the program since the start will share stories of how CPR helped save their own lives and the lives of others.
Bob Harper said: “As we embark on another year of Survivors Have Heart, I’m so grateful to be raising awareness about CPR and AED skills at tonight’s Phillies game. I might not be here today if someone in my gym hadn’t invested their time in learning how to provide high-quality CPR. Please consider getting trained and certified – you could save a life like someone saved mine.”
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a recent survey showed that only 6 out of 10 adults in the United States (U.S.) feel comfortable performing CPR1. The AHA also found that more than 356,000 cardiac arrests, defined as the abrupt loss of heart function, occur outside of the hospital each year in the U.S.2 There is a significant need for CPR and AED skills among the public and understanding of heart attack signs and symptoms3,4.
Alex Dyer, Executive Director, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism at AstraZeneca, said: “For the last five years, Survivors Have Heart has continued to make a positive impact on the heart attack survivor community. We believe this year’s effort to raise awareness about CPR and AED skills can save lives, and we’re proud to offer this important training to our own AstraZeneca employees today.”
To join the Survivors Have Heart community, hear more inspiring stories and share your own story, visit SurvivorsHaveHeart.com.
Notes
About Survivors Have Heart
Survivors Have Heart is a national movement that uses the power of patient stories to engage heart attack survivors and their loved ones, while supporting those who may be at risk of another heart attack. The program was launched with an essay contest and opportunity for five heart attack survivors and their caregivers to travel to New York city for a three-day event to meet with Bob Harper. The event was filled with heartfelt discussions and inspiring lessons, where lifelong connections were made with other heart attack survivors. In the years following, Survivors Have Heart expanded the movement to local communities across the United States, uniting local heart attack survivors and Bob Harper, in person and through virtual platforms, to share their stories of strength and resilience to educate and inspire others. To join the Survivors Have Heart community, hear more inspiring stories and share your own story, visit SurvivorsHaveHeart.com and find us on Facebook and YouTube.
About Bob Harper
Bob Harper, host of The Biggest Loser, best-selling author and heart attack survivor, has inspired audiences nationwide to get fit. He was the picture of health. Bob Harper never considered that a heart attack could happen to him. In February 2017, Bob was working out, as he did each day, when he lost consciousness. He woke up two days later and learned he’d had a near-fatal heart attack and had gone into cardiac arrest. He had to be shocked three times by an automated external defibrillator (AED) device to restart his heart. His heart attack forever changed his life, and he has now made it his personal mission in life to advocate for heart health and well-being. As part of his mission, he partnered with AstraZeneca to share his heart attack experience and be open and honest about his emotional and physical recovery in order to bring together fellow heart attack survivors to do the same, creating Survivors Have Heart.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.
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References
- American Heart Association. New survey: Only 6 out of 10 adults feel comfortable taking charge and giving CPR, 2022. [cited 2022 Jul 12]. Available from: URL: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/new-survey-only-6-out-of-10-adults-feel-comfortable-taking-charge-and-giving-cpr.
- American Heart Association. About Cardiac Arrest, 2021. [cited 2022 Jul 12]. Available from: URL: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-arrest/about-cardiac-arrest.
- American Heart Association. CPR Facts & Stats. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: URL: https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats.
- American Heart Association. Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: URL: https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cardiac-arrest-vs-heart-attack.