American Heart Month 2025: A Guide for Healthcare Workers

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Every year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the medical setting in the United States and 23,000 include children. The fact is, despite COVID-19 and rising cancer rates, heart disease is holding strong as the leading cause of death in the United States.

In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation declaring February American Heart Month in 1964, and since then, it’s been a time for the nation and its institutions to rededicate themselves to heart-healthy choices, education, and advocacy.

For health professionals, it’s an ideal time to renew important certifications like ACLS, BLS, and PALS. Premiere’s fully accredited online coursework makes it easy to maintain these life-saving skills and stay on top of the latest research and guidance. In the meantime, here are some of the ways doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare workers can do their part during American Heart Month 2025.

Advocate for Heart Healthy Change

Joining forces and speaking out for policies that can improve the collective health of our communities is something the American Heart Association (AHA) has been doing for decades. Their heart health advocacy has helped bring about legislation like the HEARTS Act to improve school responses to heart-related emergencies through resources for CPR and AED training.

Healthcare professionals can renew their commitment to the AHA’s work this February by becoming professional members, joining their support network, or simply making a donation.

Physicians and physician assistants can also connect with one of the many professional cardiovascular societies and organizations relating to their field. These cover specializations like radiology, respiratory care, sonography, and pulmonology. These connections develop both your career and your network of knowledgeable experts.

Finally, every healthcare professional can proactively educate and guide their patients to better heart outcomes with accurate information about new and existing trends. This can include guidance on smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, stress, diet, and individual risk factors and preexisting conditions.

Volunteer

Heart-related emergencies can happen at a moment’s notice with disastrous consequences. In many cases, the presence of someone with the skills and knowledge to take life-saving action quickly makes all the difference.

As a highly trained health expert, you are in a unique position to contribute to better outcomes through volunteer opportunities in your community. Schools, businesses, retirement homes, charitable organizations, and care facilities are just a few of the places where CPR training and awareness can make a big impact.

Of course, no organization can run without support, and fundraising can be a powerful way to bolster the work of state, local, and national advocacy groups. In addition to the AHA, there are many other non-profit groups that focus on a range of heart-related issues, including:

• World Heart Federation: Supports global initiatives to improve cardiovascular health
• American Diabetes Association: Promotes cardiovascular health and awareness surrounding diabetes
• Cardiovascular Research Foundation: Dedicated to cardiovascular innovation, research, and education

Pursue Training and Certifications

As a frontline worker who may encounter cardiovascular emergencies, attaining certifications like BLS, ACLS, and PALS can empower you to save lives and anticipate challenges both on the job and in your daily life. In many cases, maintaining certification in these areas is a professional requirement, but even if they aren’t specifically mandated for your role, acquiring them can help build your career and add value to your institution.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) training is typically mandatory for all nurses, doctors, and allied healthcare workers. Regularly renewing your certification ensures you are proficient in handling cardiac emergencies and performing CPR.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training is usually required for health professionals working in emergency units and roles that are at elevated risk for heart-related issues.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training is specifically designed to help healthcare providers manage emergencies related to children and infants.

Wear Red

The color of American Heart Month 2025 is red, and you can show your support for a wide range of important topics simply by sporting a little flair. And while the official motto is “empowering healthy hearts”, much of the conversation this year is focusing on women.Heart disease is also the leading cause of death in women across the United States, responsible for about 1 in every 5 deaths. By wearing red, you’ll help bring awareness to important information on risk factors like high blood pressure and the atypical presentation women often experience with acute coronary syndrome.Also, don’t forget that strength in numbers. While the first Friday in February (2/7) is considered National Wear Red Day, you and your colleagues can coordinate all month to support the issues that matter most to you.

Look After Yourself!

Healthcare workers are notorious for not taking care of themselves, and American Heart Month 2025 is the perfect time to focus a little more on your own health and wellness. The nursing workforce is under a lot of pressure as limited staff leads to long hours and stress. Nurses are at high risk for compassion fatigue and burnout, and the long-term effects of poor self-care can easily produce poor cardiovascular health.Take care of yourself this February. By supporting your own health and wellness, you’ll be in the best position possible to make a difference with the people you serve.

Renew Your Commitment for American Heart Month 2025

Now is the time to start thinking about how you can make a difference during American Heart Month 2025, but it doesn’t have to stop on the 28th. Improving your skills and knowledge of cardiovascular health is a year-round activity, and it begins with attaining and renewing critical certifications.Premiere makes it easy to renew your BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications online individually or as a single bundle without contributing to the stress of your busy workload. These courses deliver the core training and research-based best practices that empower you to take life-saving action during a cardiovascular emergency with interactive content and easily reviewable materials.All of Premiere’s courses are created by industry experts and help doctors, nurses, and allied health workers develop their careers and meet their professional obligations on a timeline that works for them.