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Aortic Dissection Awareness Week

September 13-19, 2026

Aortic Dissection Awareness Week is dedicated to saving lives through education, advocacy, and action. Inspired by the life and legacy of John Ritter, we are committed to sharing knowledge about the signs, risks, and prevention of aortic dissection—because awareness is the first step toward survival.

The Chain of Care:
Aortic Dissection from Risk to Long-Term Health

Every person affected by aortic dissection encounters a series of people, decisions, and moments that can influence what happens next. From understanding risk and recognizing symptoms to emergency care, treatment, and long-term follow-up, each step presents an opportunity to improve outcomes.

Understanding that chain, who is involved, what they know, and where gaps exist, is central to the work of The John Ritter Foundation. We work to strengthen education at every stage so that patients have a better chance of getting the right care at the right time.

Get the Clinical Guide
Pre-Event Life
Family History, Genetics, & Genetic Diagnosis
Some people who experience an aortic dissection had warning signs that were never connected. A family history of unexplained or sudden death, especially at a younger age than expected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure. An undiagnosed genetic disorder. This stage is the one where dissection can often be prevented, if the right questions are asked. In this stage, someone might receive a formal genetic diagnosis and a clear monitoring plan.

Who You May Encounter
Primary care physician, cardiologist, genetic counselor,
medical geneticist.

Education Importance
Sudden deaths in a family, especially in younger relatives, are often assumed to be cardiac events like heart attacks, but without an autopsy, an aortic cause is easy to miss. A primary care provider who knows to ask the right questions can set someone on a path of surveillance
Prehospital & Emergency Medicine
Recognition Changes Outcomes
When symptoms begin, recognizing aortic dissection as a possibility is critical. Aortic dissection is a true emergency, and early recognition can mean the difference between survival and loss. Not every recognition comes in time.

Who You May Encounter
911 dispatcher, EMT, paramedic, firefighter, ER triage nurse, emergency medicine physician, radiologist

Education Importance
1 in 3 patients are misdiagnosed at first assessment. EMS and emergency providers trained on aortic red flags can compress hours of delay into minutes (and those minutes save lives).
Surgery
What Makes Survival Possible
Type A dissections involve the ascending aorta and require emergency surgery for survival. For patients undergoing surgery, mortality is about 0.09% per hour, far better than historical estimates of 1% to 2% per hour. However, even stable-seeming patients can decline suddenly, which is why recognition, transfer, and surgical readiness all still matter. Type B dissections, those that do not involve the ascending aorta, are typically managed medically or with less invasive procedures, depending on the patient's presentation. Not all hospitals can perform this aortic surgery, and interhospital transfer is required in more than 70% of cases.

Who You May Encounter
Cardiothoracic surgeon, vascular surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, surgical nursing team.

Education Importance
Surgical teams, hospital systems, and EMS routing protocols all need to be aligned around getting dissection patients to aortic-capable centers as quickly as possible.
Immediate Recovery
The Critical First Hours
After surgery, the focus shifts to monitoring as the body stabilizes. The first 24 to 72 hours are a critical window. ICU care teams monitor the brain, kidneys, heart, and lungs closely as the body stabilizes.
Depending on the journey it took to get to surgery, a patient will have a different immediate recovery journey. For families in the waiting room, this time can be hard. The surgery is done, but the outcome still feels uncertain. Not every recovery goes as hoped.

Who You May Encounter
ICU nurse, intensivist, respiratory therapist, cardiothoracic surgeon, vascular surgeon.

Education Importance
Aortic-specific ICU protocols and well-trained critical care nurses make a measurable difference in what happens in these hours. This is specialized, high-stakes care that requires education and resources.
Post-Operative Care
The Road Back Begins
Once stable, the focus shifts to recovery. It also means beginning to understand, emotionally and practically, what happened and what life looks like now. A patient with a stable home, support from their family or community, and accessible and clear follow-up care will leave the hospital with a strong plan. A patient without those resources may be discharged into uncertainty. Health anxiety, sadness, loss of identity and other mental health concerns are common after a dissection and go unaddressed too often.

Who You May Encounter
Step-down nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, social worker, mental health professional.

Education Importance
The transition from hospital to home can be a vulnerable moment in recovery. Educating the full care team on the specific needs of aortic patients at discharge helps ensure survivorship.
Survivorship → Thrivorship
Life on the Other Side
Surviving a dissection is not the end of the journey, it's the beginning of a new one. The aorta is monitored for life and many patients live with the anxiety of what will come of their health, grief over the life they thought they would be living, and the financial aftermath of a major medical event. Family members who lived through the experience alongside them often need support too.

Who You May Encounter
Cardiologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, cardiac rehab specialist, genetic counselor, mental health professional, primary care physician, peer support community, the John Ritter Foundation.

Education Importance
A survivor who understands their condition and connects with a community of people who share their experience is a survivor who thrives. And every thriver who tells their story could reach the people who haven't been diagnosed yet and the professionals who will one day care for them.
This Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, the John Ritter Foundation is also thinking about the people who have been lost to aortic dissection and the families and friends who live with that loss. It's with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest love and condolences to the families and friends who know this journey not as a survival, but as the road they walked alongside someone they loved and now continue without.

Not everyone survives. Some die before an ambulance arrives. Some in the emergency room. Some during surgery, and others in the days and weeks that follow. Each loss represents a person, a parent, a spouse, a child, a friend, whose life mattered deeply and whose absence is felt every day.

We do this work in their honor. And we carry them with us in everything we do.
This series is intended for general education and awareness. Aortic dissection care involves complex, individual medical decisions, and the information here does not capture every nuance of diagnosis, treatment, or recovery. Please talk with a qualified healthcare provider about any specific medical questions or concerns.
Step 1: Update Your Phone’s Medical ID

iPhone: Open Health app → tap profile icon (top right) → Medical ID → Edit → update info → Done.

Android: Open Safety app (or Settings → Safety & emergency) → Medical info → Edit → update info → Save.

Be sure to include:

  • Aortic-specific diagnosis (e.g., aneurysm, dissection, location of disease)
  • Genetic condition, if applicable
  • Current medications, especially those that could affect emergency care like blood thinners or beta blockers
  • Severe allergies

Update after any change in diagnosis, medications, or emergency contacts. Do not use abbreviations as many have different meanings.

How to set it up:
  1. Call your local fire station’s non-emergency number (not 911) and ask if they use Smart911 or a “premise alert” system.
  2. If they use Smart911 (smart911.com), create a free Safety Profile online listing the aortic diagnosis, genetic condition, and medications that apply to your household. This will auto-display to dispatch when you call 911 from a registered number.
  3. If no Smart911, ask the department directly to add a premise note/alert to your address in their dispatch system (many departments do this manually for residents with serious conditions, even without a formal program).
  4. Consider a “File of Life” packet (magnet + card, free from most fire departments) listing the same info, kept on the fridge for responders.
Since coverage isn’t universal and Smart911 availability depends on local adoption, a phone Medical ID remains the more reliable backup.

This week, we’ll be sharing educational resources and aortic facts tailored to the EMS audience over on our social channels! Be sure to follow along. We’d love for you to repost the educational content to your community.

Know any EMS professionals personally? Be sure to share this content with them for further spread of education and awareness.

Facebook Instagram Threads Youtube

You’re commitment to this cause saves lives in a specific way: by reaching the EMS teams who could be the first line of defense against a fatal misdiagnosis. Because of supporters like you, more responders recognize the signs, act faster, and give patients the chance John didn’t have.

Your continued support keeps that training in the field. Donate today to continue to fund education and awareness of Aortic Dissections and give another family the outcome ours couldn’t have.

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Decreasing Fear Around Exercise: Tools for Exercising Safely At Home With Aortic Disease
September 14th, 6pm CT
Exercise can be an important part of living well with aortic disease, but knowing how to exercise safely can feel intimidating. This presentation will review emerging evidence on exercise after aortic dissection and provide practical guidance for getting started, choosing appropriate intensity, progressing gradually, and modifying common aerobic and strengthening exercises. The presenters will also briefly highlight new patient resources and recently developed consensus recommendations related to exercise and rehabilitation for people with aortic disease.
Register Here
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: A Nursing Perspective
September 15th, 6pm CT
Nurses play a pivotal role in patient care, often advocating for patients and providing education. This webinar will review nursing considerations when it comes to Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection (TAAD) for nurses who are involved in care for this population. Nurses will learn how to identify red flags in family history, understand the familial risk associated with TAAD, and be informed about support services available to the TAAD community. Although the target audience is nurses, patients, researchers, and other healthcare providers are welcome to attend. 
Register Here
Turn your passion into Action!

Community Fundraising Opportunities are available. Interested in learning more about hosting your own fundraiser in support of The John Ritter Foundation? Join our monthly Zoom to
learn more! Monday September 14, 6pm CT

Past events have included: fun runs, paddle rides, golf tournaments, tailgates, and more!

Register Here
Stronger Together

We are stronger when we work together! This ADAW we’ve teamed up with friends and partners across the aortic community to raise awareness and share education that can save lives. Each day, our organizations will share stories from people affected by aortic dissection across our social media channels.

Up to 50% of patients never make it to the hospital.

Aortic dissection can be fatal before a patient ever reaches medical care. Pre-hospital and EMS providers are on the front lines of awareness.

This year, we’re asking you to donate $50, one dollar for every percentage point, to help change that number. Together, we can save more lives by putting aortic dissection resources into the hands of the medical professionals who could be the first to reach a dissection patient.

Donate in Memory
Support the Mission

Your support makes a difference. Donations fund research that improves diagnosis and outcomes, specialized physician training, and public education campaigns that save lives. 

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Get in Touch

The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is dedicated to raising awareness, advancing research, and supporting families affected by thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Together, we can prevent tragedies and save lives.

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Happy Birthday John

This ADAW, we mark another of John Ritter’s birthdays without him. Though we miss John every day, his legacy lives on through his family, his work, and the impact of The John Ritter Foundation.

Wear Your Support

Shop exclusive apparel and show your support for Aortic Dissection Awareness Week. Every purchase helps fuel The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health’s mission and makes an impact for the people and communities we serve.

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You’re Not Alone

Whether you’re an aortic patient, a caregiver, or have lost a loved one to aortic dissection, you are not alone. The John Ritter Foundation can connect you with a peer who understands.

Our Aorta Advocates are trained volunteers with personal experience in thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Reach out to our team today!

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