CPR Ambassador Program raises awareness of CPR through advocacy and legislation

The CPR Ambassadors program helped high school students participate in advocacy and CPR training. Through hosting events and raising awareness of legislation, CPR ambassadors worked together to ensure that CPR infrastructure can be a priority in schools.

From Massachusetts to the nation, High School CPR Ambassadors working with Harvard CrimsonEMS EMTs and the American Heart Association have advocated for CPR infrastructure and brought positive changes to the community through various initiatives, such as advocacy events, social media campaigns, and petitions.

The program started in September 2024, and was inspired by increasing the awareness of life saving skills such as CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The goals include encouraging the passing of legislation, including but not limited to S.447, S.456, and H.572, which would ensure that all high school students receive CPR education and training.

“A memorable moment I’ve had from my time as ambassador is when we all met on the Harvard campus in the fall and played two truths and a lie in small groups,” said Kayla Siesay, a CPR Ambassador. “The new ambassadors got to know each other better, and share fun facts about themselves. I was in a group with people who had different hobbies, talents, and interests and it was cool to connect with them and learn more about each other!”

During the first semester in 2024, ambassadors participated in an in-person CPR certification event on Harvard’s campus. Through weekly Heartwork assignments and community outreach, ambassadors focused on raising awareness about CPR and AEDs in schools.

“As someone who has unfortunately witnessed a few sudden deaths of my teachers around me, I’ve realized that humans are fragile, and we can never predict our last minutes,” said Ivette Chen, an EMT leading the program at CrimsonEMS. “Due to this, I became interested in learning emergency medicine and applied to get involved with CrimsonEMS. In terms of the CPR Ambassador program, I was drawn to the mentorship and community outreach aspect of the program.”

Ivette’s journey reflects the profound impact of personal experience on community outreach. She and two other advocacy program leaders, Nayan Sapers and Olivia Weber, bridge the gap between mentorship and life-saving education, providing high schoolers with early exposure to learning and teaching CPR and AED usage.

“I had already been CPR certified during my time over the summer and this program seemed like an amazing opportunity,” said Sienna Berg, a CPR Ambassador. “I knew it would look good for my college resume, and I would enjoy helping to spread the message and get more involved with my school community about something I am passionate about.”

According to Berg, she completed a Harvard MEDscience program over the summer, which enriched her learning of medicine and shared the opportunity on Instagram. Ambassadors develop life-saving skills and enhance their leadership experiences to strengthen awareness around CPR.

“I think my most memorable experience is going to the North Carolina House of Representatives Law meeting, and meeting all of the legislators and telling them stories about CPR related stories,” said Audrey Liu, a CPR Ambassador. “So I think the main impact was just making sure that people were aware of CPR.”

Audrey’s story is an example of how ambassadors have been making a difference in their community. From communicating with legislators to hosting events, they highlight the importance of CPR education and awareness.

“Regarding advice to give to high school students, I would encourage them to obtain early exposure to emergency medicine or CPR advocacy work. Especially those interested in medicine, it’s a great way to dip your toes into the advocacy part of the medical field,” Chen said.