Our Community Showed Up Big: Inside Sacramento’s CPR-A-THON
- Maych Rowell
- Oct 30
- 3 min read
On Thursday, October 16, Capital City CPR successfully trained nearly 300 people, at no cost, in hands-only CPR and AED for Sacramento’s first-ever CPR-A-THON.
The unforgettable twelve-hour event, hosted outside the State Capitol Building, brought the community together to learn critical skills, aimed at increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest—because everyone deserves access to life-saving training.
Our Impact
From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., participants were able to drop in and receive hands-on training, led by our medically trained instructors and volunteers, where they were shown how to:
Identify sudden cardiac arrest
Administer hands-only chest compressions
Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
“I think it's really important for everyone, especially young people, to know hands-only CPR and how to use an AED because you just truly never know when, where, or who it could happen to … and when you're out at these events or just really anywhere in the public, you might be the only one who knows how to do CPR or use an AED. So, it’s just really important to do your part in potentially saving the life of a loved one or a stranger,” said Tiernen, one of the many EMT student volunteers who came out to support the event.
Sharing Resources
In addition to non-stop, all-day CPR training, the CPR-A-THON also included a resource fair. Participants were able to talk to local vendors and community partners who were united around one goal—boosting Sacramento’s cardiac arrest survival rates through education and action.
Avive Solutions, a company that creates its own accessible AED devices, provided twenty-five Avive Connect AED®’s, equipping participants with real tools and real-time practice to build the confidence and skills they would need in an emergency.
Ashcraft EMS, created by Ray Ashcraft, who provides study guides for EMT students, successfully handed out hundreds of units of Narcan to the community and educated them on the proper use and importance of the medication. “I’d love to see this medication on hand regularly for everyone. It’s really, really critical in giving someone a fighting chance while EMS is on their way”, said Jack with Ashcraft EMS.
Community Donation
In preparation for this event, Capital City CPR partnered with Avive Solutions to provide a free ~$2,000 Avive Connect AED® and free first aid/CPR training to the group that rallied the most participants. These essentials were donated to First Step Communities, a Sacramento non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and emergency shelter for unhoused community members. This donation ensures that lifesaving technology and education are available where it is needed most— helping protect some of Sacramento’s most vulnerable residents.
Group Effort
A special shout-out to our partners and twenty-plus volunteers who came together for the community, showing what’s possible when passionate people unite over a common goal.
What's Next?
The CPR-A-THON was just one of the many steps Capital City CPR has taken in helping the Sacramento community increase its survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. Capital City CPR is recognized for our top-tier, comprehensive first aid training and courses, which provide our clients with the confidence and capability to respond effectively to a broad range of emergencies.
For more information, visit us at capitalcitycpr.com and check out the courses we offer at capitalcitycpr.com/courses.
Thank you again to everyone who worked to make this event a success and to the hundreds of people who showed up to learn how to protect their community. We hope to see you again next year!
