Colorado Cardiac Arrest Statistics: Why CPR Training Matters Here
Last Updated: February 18, 2026
The numbers tell a clear story: Colorado needs more CPR-trained bystanders. Approximately 3,700 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the state every year. Denver's bystander CPR rates have historically been below the national average. And the data consistently shows that trained bystanders are the single most impactful variable in cardiac arrest survival.
Be part of the solution. Get CPR certified in Denver or Boulder.
Colorado by the Numbers
Colorado established the Office of Cardiac Arrest Management in 2022 (HB22-1251, signed by Governor Jared Polis), making it the first state in the United States with a dedicated office focused exclusively on combating cardiac arrest. The initial appropriation was $200,000. Colorado is one of 30 active CARES (Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival) state registries.
Denver-specific data from the Haukoos study (2003-2004) documented 1,985 cardiac arrests in the city, with resuscitation attempted in 36% of cases. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 8%. Among witnessed arrests with a shockable rhythm, 27% survived to discharge.
The Denver bystander CPR rate ranged from 17.5% to 25% across multiple studies, significantly below the current national average of 41.7% (CARES 2024).
Disparities in Denver's Bystander CPR Rates
Research conducted in Denver's primarily Latino, low-income neighborhoods found that Latino cardiac arrest victims are 30% less likely than white victims to receive bystander CPR. National data from the NIH (2024) shows similar patterns: white adults see a 33% survival increase with bystander CPR, while Black adults see only a 9% increase.
These disparities are not about willingness to help. They correlate with access to CPR training, awareness of free or low-cost training resources, language barriers in English-only training programs, and historical underinvestment in community health education in underserved neighborhoods.
Increasing CPR training in all Denver neighborhoods, particularly those currently underserved, is one of the most direct ways to close these survival gaps.
National Context
Approximately 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the United States. About 90% are fatal. Overall survival to hospital discharge is 10.5% (CARES 2024). With bystander CPR, survival rises to 13.0%. Without it, 7.6%.
CPR initiated within 2 minutes gives the victim an 81% greater chance of surviving to discharge and a 95% higher chance of surviving without significant brain damage. After 10 minutes without CPR, survival rates converge toward zero.
What Colorado Is Doing About It
Colorado's Office of Cardiac Arrest Management coordinates statewide AED registry development, promotes bystander CPR training, and runs the savealifeco.com public awareness campaign. David's Law (C.R.S. 22-1-125) encourages AEDs in every public school and athletic complex. SB23-023 encourages CPR instruction for high school students.
Programs like Starting Hearts in Eagle County have placed 200-plus AEDs on chairlifts, in police cars, schools, and on lampposts, and have documented multiple saves directly attributable to public-access defibrillation.
CPR success stories from Colorado bystanders who saved lives.
How You Can Help Close the Gap
Every person who completes CPR training adds another potential rescuer to the community. CPR-Professionals offers AHA-certified training at accessible price points at both Denver and Boulder, with small class sizes that ensure quality hands-on practice for every student.
