One of the groups holding a conference this year in the San Diego Convention Center will show locals how to save lives.
In conjunction with The Heart Rhythm Society’s 2025 annual conference, it’s providing seven life-saving training sessions for San Diego hotel employees, the convention center staff and supporting vendors. The sessions will explain how to operate an automated external defibrillator (AED) and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
An AED delivers an electrical shock through the chest to the heart when it detects an abnormal rhythm and changes the rhythm back to normal.
“Hotels and convention centers often have AEDs, but the devices are not helpful if people do not know how to use them,” Heart Rhythm Society CEO Patricia Blake says. “HRS will facilitate the training of local staff who may be able to offer help in an emergency situation when every second counts.”
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest claims the lives of nearly 350,000 people in the U.S. each year. In San Diego, only 8.2% of people who experience a cardiac arrest survive (just below the national average).
When experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, time is a critical factor. About 60% to 80% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. CPR and AED use can double or triple someone’s chance of survival.
“HRS is one of the San Diego Convention Center’s most valued and innovative clients,” San Diego Convention Center President & CEO Rip Rippetoe says. “Executing events successfully means executing events safely. San Diego is proud to partner with HRS on this important initiative.”
HRS training events have already been held in the Manchester Hyatt, Hard Rock Hotel and the Pendry San Diego. The schedule continues at the convention center and the Marriott Marquis (Tuesday, April 22), Hilton San Diego Bayfront (Wednesday, April 23) and the Marriott Gaslamp (Thursday, April 24).
The HRS annual conference runs from April 24-27 and is expected to attract more than 10,500 attendees.
The San Diego Convention Center anticipates hosting more than 90 events in 2026 that will draw more than 805,000 attendees. SDSun
