North Carolina is gearing up for a high-stakes public health push on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as organizers attempt to set a world record by training 30,000 people in hands-only CPR in a single day. Duke University researchers, backed by hundreds of community volunteers, will host drop-in training sessions across the state to teach the straightforward chest-compression technique. Many sites require no advance registration, and the lesson itself is designed to take only a few minutes.
Duke And Partners Mobilize Trainers Across 30 Counties
The training surge is part of the RACE-CARS (Randomized Cluster Evaluation of Cardiac Arrest Systems) trial, with Duke School of Medicine coordinating a statewide effort to reach at least 30,000 participants in one day. Volunteer instructors from Duke, EMS agencies, hospitals and community groups will staff public training sites in 30 counties. Organizers will track signups and progress on a live dashboard, according to the Duke University School of Medicine.
Where To Find A Session
Public training locations and interactive maps are posted online, and many sessions are set up as drop-in events - no advance sign-up required. Sites range from community markets to campus centers to county EMS offices across North Carolina, according to the RACE-CARS trial.
Why It Matters
More than 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. each year, and about nine out of ten do not survive. Immediate bystander CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival. According to the American Heart Association, hands-only CPR is simple to learn and can keep someone alive until professional help arrives, which is why rapid, large-scale public training is seen as a powerful tool to improve survival across the state.
How To Help Or Join
Organizers are calling on volunteers and community partners to help staff training locations and spread the word. Anyone interested in coordinating a site or volunteering can contact event coordinator Tyler Cope. The trial’s website lists contact information and features a live tally that will show in real time whether North Carolina hits the 30,000-trainee target, according to the RACE-CARS trial.
State emergency officials are boosting the effort as well. North Carolina Emergency Management promoted the world-record training day on X, sharing a QR code and location finder for residents looking for nearby drop-in sessions. The agency urged North Carolinians to learn hands-only CPR, pointing to the same registration-free tools organizers are using to log participants.
