On a brisk October morning in Kearny Mesa, the thump of hands on CPR mannequins echoed through the County Operations Center. It wasn’t a medical emergency—far from it. Instead, it was the latest in a sweeping effort to teach hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to San Diegans, part of a campaign that’s already reached more than half a million people in under two years. The urgency? Every minute counts when someone’s heart stops, and a bystander’s quick action can mean the difference between life and death.
This week, students from the Emergency Medical Services Corps—many from communities that have historically had less access to healthcare training—stepped up to lead a free public session. Under the watchful eyes of CAL FIRE/County Fire firefighters and paramedics, they guided attendees through the basics of hands-only CPR, a technique that’s as simple as it is powerful: chest compressions at a steady 100 to 120 beats per minute, no mouth-to-mouth required.
“We’re here to help train the public on compression CPR,” explained Nick Bye-Carnes, program manager for the EMS Corps, according to County News Center. “The sooner you get someone to do compression CPR, the higher the person’s chances are for survival. I want our EMS Corps students to get to the point where they can teach it and be a community service at the same time.”
It’s a sentiment echoed half a world away in Dublin, where Linda Hall, a guidance counsellor, has made it her mission to train as many people as possible in CPR after losing her father to sudden cardiac arrest in 2001. He was just 48, fit and healthy, when his heart stopped after a game of badminton. Despite a defibrillator on hand and a partner who knew CPR, he didn’t survive. For Linda, the experience became a call to action. “I was in Australia when I got the call and had to come home,” she told Dublin Live, recalling the shock and helplessness she felt.
Linda now heads the CPR 4 Schools programme at Kingswood Community College, part of a nationwide initiative by the Irish Heart Foundation. Over the past two years, she and her colleagues have trained more than 1,000 students and staff. “If someone has a cardiac arrest, you know what to do,” she said. “Straight away, I was hooked on the CPR 4 Schools programme—CPR is a tool that everybody should know. The start of me giving back was because of my dad.”
Her determination has already paid off in the most tangible way: one group of students reported that the skills they learned saved a friend’s life. The Irish Heart Foundation’s Resuscitation Manager, Brigid Sinnott, emphasized the programme’s growing reach. “The schools programme means students will have learned CPR skills a number of times before they leave school, which will help to build a nation of lifesavers,” she told Dublin Live. With more than 350,000 students trained across Ireland, the ripple effect is enormous.
Back in San Diego, the numbers are equally impressive. Since January 2024, the Revive & Survive San Diego initiative—a partnership between the County and UC San Diego—has trained 655,441 people at 17,543 events. The goal? To reach a million trained residents, arming everyday people with the knowledge to step in during a cardiac crisis. At the Kearny Mesa event alone, 25 participants, including county employees and members of the public, practiced on adult and infant mannequins, gaining hands-on experience and a newfound sense of confidence.
For many, the biggest hurdle isn’t the physical act of CPR—it’s the fear of doing something wrong, or of not being able to save the person. Linda Hall addresses this head-on in her training sessions. “I’m able to say that when I’m delivering the programme to students—if you decide to perform CPR and the person doesn’t survive, it’s not your fault. That’s a big thing that I stress with them.” It’s a message that resonates, especially for those who worry about the weight of responsibility in an emergency.
Evelyn Villa, one of the EMS Corps student trainers in San Diego, echoed the importance of empowerment. She told County News Center, “It really is important for everyone to learn they can do this CPR, it’s not hard to do and not just professionals can help.” That sentiment was echoed by Christie Cosby, a first-time participant who discovered the event through social media. “This is my first time ever doing this. Now that I’ve practiced, I want to get certified.”
The science behind the urgency is sobering. According to County News Center, brain death can begin just four to six minutes after cardiac arrest if there’s no CPR or defibrillation. For every minute that CPR is delayed, the chance of survival drops by 7% to 10%. That’s why hands-only CPR—fast, hard compressions in the center of the chest—can buy precious time until professional help arrives.
Both the San Diego and Dublin programmes emphasize the same core steps: recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, call emergency services (911 in the U.S., 112 or 999 in Ireland), begin chest compressions immediately, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available. “Not everyone will survive a cardiac arrest but by performing CPR, you are giving people the best chance,” said Brigid Sinnott. “The key advice is to recognise that someone is having a cardiac arrest, call 112 or 999, push hard and fast in the centre of the chest and use an AED (defibrillator).”
What’s striking about these efforts is how they’re breaking down barriers. In San Diego, the EMS Corps is made up of students from traditionally under-served communities, many of whom are participating in a free Emergency Medical Technician program offered by the County. Their involvement not only builds skills but creates a ripple effect, as they bring knowledge back to their neighborhoods and inspire others to get involved.
The same is true in Ireland, where the CPR 4 Schools programme is offered free to secondary schools, ensuring students from all backgrounds have the chance to learn. “There are heart conditions in my family, so I want everybody trained in CPR,” Linda Hall said. “If someone has a cardiac arrest, you know what to do.”
For those who want to get involved, resources abound. In Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation offers information and training opportunities at irishheart.ie. In San Diego, the Revive & Survive campaign continues to host public events, aiming to make hands-only CPR as commonplace as knowing how to dial emergency services.
As the world marks Restart a Heart Day and communities from California to Dublin rally to build a nation—indeed, a world—of lifesavers, these stories are a powerful reminder: anyone can step up, anyone can make a difference, and sometimes, a pair of hands and a little courage are all it takes.
