First Aid Ally
October Is Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month: Why Every Second Counts
When a heart suddenly stops beating, life hangs in the balance. Each year, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone. Unlike a heart attack, which often gives warning signs, sudden cardiac arrest strikes without notice. The heart’s electrical system malfunctions, and within minutes, oxygen is cut off from the brain and body. Without immediate action—calling 911, starting CPR, and using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)—survival rates drop by ten percent with every passing minute.
That urgency is why Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month exists: to spread knowledge, to empower bystanders, and to remind us that every second counts.
As the owner of First Aid Ally and author of First Aid Ally: A Guide for Everyone, it is my mission to help everyday people feel confident responding to emergencies. Too often, people freeze in the moment—not because they do not care, but because they do not know what to do.
The truth is, you do not have to be a doctor, EMT, or firefighter to save a life. With a few simple skills, anyone can bridge the critical gap until professional help arrives.
Here are three steps you can take right now to honor Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month:
- Learn CPR: Hands-only CPR is simple and can double or even triple survival rates. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest—at a beat similar to the song “Stayin’ Alive.”
- Locate an AED near you: Many workplaces, gyms, airports, and schools have AEDs. Know where they are, because in an emergency you will not have time to look around, and ideally, you will be able to tell someone else where to get it as you begin CPR. *Every second counts*.
- Build confidence through training: Taking a CPR/AED class is one of the best investments you can make for your community and your loved ones. This is precisely why I wrote First Aid Ally: A Guide for Everyone—to make life saving information practical, accessible, and free of jargon. In my classes and in the book, I break down what to do in those critical first minutes of an emergency, whether it is sudden cardiac arrest, choking, bleeding, or an allergic reaction.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Would I know what to do?”, now is the time to answer that question with a confident yes.
Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month is more than a calendar reminder. It is an invitation to step into your power to protect others. Learning CPR, familiarizing yourself with AEDs, and practicing readiness and situational awareness, you may one day be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life.
Make this October about more than awareness; make it about action.
Christine Faltz Grassman, Owner of First Aid Ally
Author of First Aid Ally: A Guide for Everyone
"Knowledge should never be out of reach." — Christine Faltz Grassman
We are committed to making life-saving education accessible to all, because every hand trained is a community made stronger.
First Aid Ally: Building Safer, Stronger Communities Together.
Meet Christine Faltz Grassman
Christine Faltz Grassman believes that knowledge should never be out of reach. Blind since birth, she has spent her life breaking barriers, proving that with the right tools and spirit, anyone can learn, grow, and lead.
As the founder of First Aid Ally—a woman- and disability-owned health education company—Christine’s mission is simple yet powerful: to make CPR, First Aid, and AED training truly accessible to everyone. Through her partnership with The Blind Muse Foundation, she is helping to create a world where safety education knows no limits.
With decades of experience as a teacher, attorney, conflict resolution specialist, and advocate, Christine brings unmatched heart and expertise to every class she leads. Her ability to break down complex skills into clear, achievable steps turns hesitation into confidence. Her effective listening, hands-on teaching style, and patient encouragement ensure that every student leaves feeling empowered and capable.
Christine’s journey has always been fueled by a desire to serve and uplift others. Whether working in the classroom, advocating for justice, or training new lifesavers, she is guided by the belief that no challenge is too great when you believe in possibility.
Today, through First Aid Ally, Christine is building more than a business—she’s building a movement: a movement where education is inclusive, dreams are within reach, and the power to save lives belongs to us all.
Through the partnership with the Blind Muse Foundation, a registered 501c3 non-profit dedicated to communication, education and community.
First Aid Ally makes its mark not only with making accessible educational content but also the flexibility of offering classes delivered to you at your organization or company.
At First Aid Ally, in partnership with The Blind Muse Foundation, we believe that saving lives is a right, not a privilege.
We are proud to deliver CPR, First Aid, and AED training that is accessible to every learner, regardless of disability. But to fully open the doors of life-saving education, we need your help. The Blind Muse Foundation is dedicated to communication, education and connecting communities.
Your gift will directly support:
- 🫀 Purchasing Accessible CPR Manikins — specialized training equipment that provides audible and tactile feedback, making it possible for blind and low-vision learners to master CPR confidently.
- 📚 Adapting Red Cross Materials — transforming traditional print and video resources into accessible formats including Braille, large print, tactile diagrams, descriptive audio, and fully screen-reader-friendly documents.
