Bakersfield, Calif., June 17, 2026 - According to the American Heart Association , 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don't receive bystander CPR. CPR - especially if performed immediately - can double or triple a person's chance of survival.
To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in Kern County, Ken Keller, president and chief executive officer at Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital, will return as chair of the 2026 Kern County Heart and Stroke Walk, leading an effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education. Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere.
Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to make CPR education and training more accessible, fund vital research and drive equitable health for all. Under Keller's leadership, top executives in Kern County work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.
AHA News (American Heart Association) published a clinical update in Cardiology on 17 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Local healthcare executive to lead 2026 Kern County Heart and Stroke Walk and county-wide push for CPR readiness.
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