American Heart Month is a national observance held every February to raise awareness of heart disease and the steps people can take to prevent it. President Lyndon B. Johnson first proclaimed it in 1964. Today the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) lead the best-known campaigns, with the AHA focusing on CPR training and NHLBI promoting heart-healthy habits through The Heart Truth program.
For employers, heart health is a workforce issue. Sudden cardiac emergencies can happen at any site, and trained coworkers are often the first people on the scene. February is a good month to refresh first aid and CPR skills and to promote the health benefits you already offer.
When Is American Heart Month in 2027?
American Heart Month runs for all of February, from February 1 to February 28, 2027. It is held every February. NHLBI's National Wear Red Day takes place on the first Friday in February, which under that pattern falls on February 5, 2027. Campaign themes and toolkits are announced by the organizers each year, so check the NHLBI American Heart Month page and the AHA American Heart Month page for the 2027 materials.
Why It Matters at Work
Heart disease touches almost every workplace. According to the CDC's heart disease facts, 919,032 people in the United States died from cardiovascular disease in 2023, and one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds. The CDC also reports that about 805,000 people in the US have a heart attack every year. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups.
Many of the risk factors are things a workplace can influence: long sedentary shifts, poor access to healthy food on the road, stress, fatigue and tobacco use. Professional drivers, shift workers and people in high-stress roles can face several of these at once.
The workplace also matters in an emergency. The AHA notes that bystanders are often the first to respond to a cardiac emergency and that prompt CPR can double or triple a person's chance of surviving cardiac arrest. A crew that knows how to call for help, start CPR and use an AED is a real safety control, not just a wellness perk.
How to Take Part
The AHA publishes a free American Heart Month toolkit each year, and its recent campaigns have centered on Hands-Only CPR and the idea that anyone can save a life. NHLBI offers The Heart Truth resources and wellness toolkits. Ideas for a workplace or fleet:
- Run CPR and AED refreshers. Schedule short Hands-Only CPR demonstrations or full certification classes for supervisors and volunteers.
- Check your AEDs. Confirm each unit's location, battery and pad expiration dates, and make sure signs point to it.
- Join National Wear Red Day. Invite employees to wear red on the first Friday in February and share heart health facts.
- Offer health screenings. Work with your benefits provider on blood pressure checks or wellness visits.
- Support drivers and shift workers. Share tips on healthy food choices on the road, movement during breaks and getting enough sleep.
- Promote quit-smoking resources. Remind employees about any cessation programs in your benefits.
- Review your emergency plan. Make sure your emergency action plan explains how to call 911, where AEDs are kept and who is trained to respond.
Toolbox Talk: Responding to a Cardiac Emergency
Use this outline for a 5-minute toolbox talk during February.
- Know the warning signs. Chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, pain in the arms, back, neck or jaw, nausea and cold sweats can all signal a heart attack. Symptoms can differ from person to person.
- Call for help first. If someone collapses or shows warning signs, call 911 and send someone to get the nearest AED.
- Start CPR if they are not breathing normally. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help or an AED arrives.
- Use the AED. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts. It will tell you what to do and only advises a shock when one is needed.
- Know our setup. Point out where AEDs and first aid kits are kept on this site and who our trained responders are.
- Take care of yourself. Heart health is built daily through activity, rest, diet and not smoking. Use the health resources the company offers.
Discussion question: If someone collapsed right here, who would call 911, who would get the AED and who would start CPR?
Related Requirements
There is no OSHA standard for heart disease itself, but OSHA's medical services and first aid standard (1910.151) requires that, when there is no infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, one or more people must be adequately trained to render first aid. Many employers include CPR and AED skills in that training. Some industries and states have additional rules, so check what applies to your sites.
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Training Management module helps you schedule first aid, CPR and AED classes, track who is certified and see when certifications are about to expire. Records are stored in one place, dashboards show coverage by site or shift, and mobile access lets supervisors check who is trained before a crew heads out. You can also use digital checklists for routine AED and first aid kit inspections and assign corrective actions when something needs to be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is American Heart Month 2027?
American Heart Month runs from February 1 to February 28, 2027. It is observed every February. National Wear Red Day is held on the first Friday of the month, which is February 5 in 2027.
Who started American Heart Month?
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first American Heart Month proclamation in 1964. Presidents have continued to recognize February as American Heart Month. The American Heart Association and NHLBI now run the main national campaigns.
What is the American Heart Month theme?
Themes are set by the organizers each year. In 2026, the AHA built its campaign around Hands-Only CPR and its Nation of Lifesavers message that anyone can save a life. Check the AHA and NHLBI sites in early 2027 for that year's theme and toolkit, and see CPR and AED Awareness Week for another chance to train later in the year.
