February is American Heart Month, a nationwide observance that spotlights cardiovascular disease and the need for more lifesavers. First proclaimed in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, American Heart Month began as a national call to take charge of your heart health—a mission that continues today. Join the Nation of Lifesavers and learn CPR today.
From the first CPR training in 1960 to today’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, American Heart Month has always been about action. In the early ’60s, AHA‑supported scientists proved that combining breaths with chest compressions could restart a heart—launching modern CPR and doubling or even tripling survival for cardiac arrest. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed February American Heart Month, turning the fight against heart disease into a national priority. With CPR formally endorsed soon after and public education campaigns on heart attack signs taking off in the ’70s, American Heart Month became a rallying point to help more people recognize emergencies, respond quickly and save lives.
