Revive & Survive San Diego Trains 1 Million People in Hands-Only CPR

1 million chances to save a life

In January 2024, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego and the County of San Diego launched Revive & Survive San Diego, an initiative to train 1 million people in hands-only CPR.

Revive & Survive San Diego reached its goal in August 2026.

With the help of 49 training partners, including local public health, public safety, business, education and community organizations, 1,011,034 individuals learned hands-only CPR during 25,138 free training events across the county. The largest event was held by the Sweetwater Union High School District, resulting in 1,651 students trained at Rancho Del Rey Middle School — a stepping stone for the district to receive a Project ADAM Heart Safe Designation.

Within a county with 3.3 million residents and 32 million visiting tourists annually, San Diego Revive & Survive co-leads Cheryl A.M. Anderson, PhD, MPH, dean of the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and Kristi L. Koenig, MD, County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services medical director, had full confidence that the San Diego community would reach the ambitious goal.

"When we envisioned a community CPR education program, we set the ambitious goal of training 1 million people because of the strength of public health partnerships in San Diego," said Anderson. "This community could quickly grasp the importance of having 1 in 3 residents in our region being ready to save a life if someone’s heart stops beating."

"Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," added Koenig. "Nearly half of the people who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in San Diego County last year received CPR from a bystander before emergency responders arrived. Training more than 1 million people in hands-only CPR means more people are now prepared to act when every second counts."

Hands-only CPR improves survival

In 2025, 46% of people who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in San Diego County received CPR before first responders arrived.

"Every second matters when it comes to cardiac arrest," said Jeff Collins, director of San Diego County Fire. "Brain death begins to occur within four to six minutes after cardiac arrest without CPR. And, for every minute that it is delayed the chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10 percent."

Using simulation modeling, Natasha Martin, DPhil, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, estimates that in a five-year period the training provided by Revive & Survive San Diego could lead to over 1,600 more individuals performing bystander CPR (a 40% increase), saving an additional 400 lives, and improving quality of life for survivors.

Including the 15 minutes of CPR performed by Inskeep on the street, Winter underwent a total of 72 minutes of CPR before being placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine to help pump and oxygenate his blood. This allows the overworked heart and lungs to rest and heal while being treated.

He remained in a medically induced coma for two weeks.

After recovering, Winter and his wife took a CPR training course with Inskeep, his wife, Audrey, and their 13-year-old daughter. Inspired by their experience, they all want to be ready should someone else need help.

"The goal isn’t to become a hero," said Winter. "The goal is to save someone’s life."

About hands-only CPR

Hands-only CPR requires only two steps. First, call 911. Second, perform chest compressions on a bare chest at 100 to 120 beats per minute without mouth-to-mouth breathing. Visit revivesurvive.ucsd.edu to find an event and get trained.