Werme joins the American Heart Association in engaging companies in Vermont to create a community of lifesavers
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 Vermont, Dan Werme, Regional President at NBT Bank, will chair the 2026 Vermont Heart Walk, leading a year-round 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 Werme’s leadership, top executives in Vermont will work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.
“Every minute counts in a cardiac emergency and equipping our community with CPR skills means more people can step in and make a difference before first responders arrive,” Werme said. “This year’s Heart Walk is not just about raising funds; it’s about building a culture of preparedness where anyone can be a lifesaver.”
According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people — or approximately 103 million U.S. adults — now feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That’s roughly 17.7 million more adults who are highly confident in their ability to conduct CPR, yet 61% still lack high confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.
“While we’re extremely proud of the progress that’s been made over the last several years, our work is far from over,” said Brian Shankey, executive director of the American Heart Association in Northern New England. “Dan’s commitment to making Vermont a safer, stronger community is proof they’re the right person for the role. We’re looking forward to seeing incredible results from this year’s Heart Walk campaign and hope the community will join us in making it a success.”
The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.
The Vermont Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Centennial Field. Participants will walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made in Vermont. Companies interested in participating can contact local Heart Walk Director Samantha Randlett at Samantha.Randlett@heart.org. Learn more and register at Heart.org/VTHeartWalk.