Community Impact: Heart Rhythm Society Provides AED and CPR Training to Chicago Hotel and Convention Center Staff

CHICAGO, April 16, 2025 – As the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) prepares to kick off its annual conference, Heart Rhythm 2026, on April 23, 2026, in Chicago, IL, it is providing eight life-saving training sessions for more than 100 staff of Chicago hotels, McCormick Place convention center, and supporting vendors. Each training session will teach employees how to operate an automated external defibrillator (AED) and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

When experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), time is a critical factor. About 60-80% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. CPR and AED use can double or triple someone’s chance of survival. Many Chicago hotels and public buildings are equipped with AEDs but training the public on how to use these life-saving devices is crucial. An AED delivers an electrical shock through the chest to the heart when it detects an abnormal rhythm and changes the rhythm back to normal.

“Our global Society of heart rhythm care professionals wanted to give back to the community we will call home for a week by providing life-saving training,” said Christina Wurster, CEO, Heart Rhythm Society. “Hotels and convention centers often have AEDs, but the devices are not helpful if people do not know how to use them. HRS will facilitate the training of local staff who may be able to offer help in an emergency when every second counts.”

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest claims the lives of approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. each year. In Chicago, only 10.6% of people who experienced a cardiac arrest survive.

“McCormick Place deeply values its partnership with HRS and the organization’s commitment to safety. We applaud HRS for making lifesaving AED/CPR training more widely available,” said Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns McCormick Place. “Executing events successfully means executing events safely. We are proud to partner with HRS on this important initiative.”

In 2025, McCormick Place hosted 213 events, drawing 1.7 million attendees.

Training Event Details

Hilton Chicago
Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

McCormick Place
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 8:00 – 5:30 PM

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About the Heart Rhythm Society

The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and is the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education, and optimal healthcare policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, D.C., it has a membership of more than 9,000 heart rhythm professionals from 100 countries. For more information, visit www.HRSonline.org.

About Heart Rhythm 2026

The Heart Rhythm Society’s annual Heart Rhythm meeting convenes 10,000 of the world’s finest clinicians, scientists, researchers, and innovators in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. More than 2,000 international experts in the field will serve as faculty for the 200+ educational sessions, forums, symposia, and ceremonies, while 110+ exhibitors will showcase innovative products and services. For more information, visit HeartRhythm.com.