American Heart Association -- New York City

06/18/2026

Our event season has officially come to a close! Thank you to all of our leaders, volunteers, and supporters for helping us bring health and hope to every New Yorker and beyond!

What was your favorite moment from event season this year? 👀🥳

06/17/2026

Welcome back to the Red Chair Series locally sponsored by Northwell Health Katz Institute for Women's Health. Dr. Bani Azari explains if your father had a cardiac condition, daughters should be just as aware of their health as of their brother's.
http://spr.ly/6183B87obF

06/16/2026

Come see the American Heart Association at the FIFA Fan Festival 2026™!
This summer brings the World Cup to New York City, and we're sharing the importance of knowing Hands-Only CPR with everyone, everywhere! 🌎⚽
While you're celebrating your favorite team, take the chance to learn how to save a life, and be prepared when it matters most!

06/14/2026

EMT instructor Karl Arps, clutched his chest, demonstrating what a heart attack might look like for his students. He told them he had pain in his left arm and was sweating.

But then his heart stopped – for real.

Fellow instructor Traci Blondeau immediately recognized the signs of cardiac arrest. A student called 911 while Traci started CPR. Another student grabbed an automated external defibrillator or AED.

After several minutes of CPR and two shocks from the AED, Karl had a heartbeat. Before paramedics even arrived, he was conscious and alert.

At the hospital Karl learned a heart attack triggered his cardiac arrest. He had severe blockages in three of the four main arteries to the heart. Triple bypass surgery successfully cleared the blockages.

Karl has been an emergency medical technician for nearly 30 years. He’s taught for 19 years, training hundreds of firefighters, police officers and nursing students. He also works part time as a security guard for the minor league baseball club in town.

Three months since that fateful day, Karl is easing back into his three jobs. “I like to stay active,” he said. “I’m happy to be here, and I’m ready to get back to work.”

He’s worked security at a few baseball games this season, and he helped administer a final exam for the EMT students.

Four of the students who were in the classroom when Karl’s heart stopped are becoming full-time paramedics. Others will return to firefighting better prepared. Another EMT Fundamentals class begins soon.

“And I’m going back,” Karl said. “There’s no doubt.”

Karl continues to urge everyone he meets to learn CPR. “Please, please, please take a course,” he said. “You never know when a heart event could happen. The experience you get in class versus being told how to do it — you just can't measure that.”

Visit http://spr.ly/6180B87t4n to find a CPR course.

You can read more of Karl’s story at http://spr.ly/6183B87t4Z.

06/13/2026

Would you know when it’s time to perform CPR? Here’s what to look for.

How do you know when it’s time to start CPR? What should you do? CPR experts explain.

06/11/2026

We all want to make sure people have enough food.

This is why we are urging the city to provide support for these critical programs in the city budget:
- Provide $3.1 million in new funding for the Get the Good Stuff program.
- Provide $1,000,000 baseline funding for Health Bucks, which helps SNAP dollars go further.
- Increase funding for Groceries to Go, a program that helps people access discounted groceries and grocery delivery if needed.
- Expand the current produce prescription pilot, More Veggies.

United we can change the future of health in New York City.

06/11/2026

Today we had the opportunity to share the importance and convenience of knowing Hands-Only CPR with CBS!

Sarah Gillen, , informed us on how easy it is to perform Hands-Only CPR when it matters most. We were also joined by Sarah Taffet, a Cardiac Arrest survivor, who shared her story and why it's critical that people are not only prepared to respond in an emergency, but aware that you do not need to be a trained first responder to take action.

Stop by our tent at the FIFA Fan Festival 2026™ and learn Hands-Only CPR!

06/11/2026

High cholesterol is common—and manageable. Understanding your numbers can help protect your heart. Thank you to Dr. Greg Katz from NYU Langone Health, our local New York City Live Fierce. Reduce Your Risk. sponsor, for sharing his expertise. Click the link for more information http://spr.ly/6188B8NlYs

06/10/2026

Welcome back to the Red Chair Series locally sponsored by Northwell Health Katz Institute for Women's Health! Dr. Azari explains knowing your family history is important because it helps identify risks for different cardiac conditions. http://spr.ly/6180B8bNoI

06/09/2026

A behind-the-scenes look at the Heart of New York City Gala. ❤️
Our Communications Intern, Nicole, takes us with her as she preps for our final event and witnesses the impact of a community uniting around this lifesaving mission.