Las Vegas Raiders Partner with American Heart Association to Equip Local Schools with Life-Saving CPR Training

The Las Vegas Raiders have taken a significant step in community health education by collaborating with the American Heart Association to provide critical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to 12 local schools. This initiative addresses a critical public health concern: the high mortality rate of cardiac arrests outside hospital settings.

According to American Heart Association data, nearly 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, often due to delayed or absent CPR. The training program aims to change these statistics by empowering students, faculty, and staff with life-saving skills. Each participating school received a CPR in Schools kit containing 10 Hands-Only CPR manikins, 10 AED training tools, and comprehensive curriculum materials.

The program highlights the importance of immediate cardiac emergency response. Compression-only CPR, or Hands-Only CPR, can be performed by anyone and can significantly increase survival chances. By teaching this straightforward technique, the initiative seeks to create a community of confident responders who can act quickly during medical emergencies.

This training aligns with broader national efforts, such as the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for evidence-based policies to prevent cardiac-related fatalities among students. The American Heart Association reports that approximately 23,000 individuals under 18 experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, with nearly 40% occurring during sports activities.

The participating schools, including Kenneth Divich Elementary School, Southern Highlands Preparatory School, and others, will now have the resources to continue teaching these critical life-saving skills. Three schools additionally received AED devices, further enhancing their emergency response capabilities.

Kari Uyehara, Executive Director of the Raiders Foundation, emphasized the organization's commitment to building healthier communities through this partnership. By investing in education and preventative training, the Raiders are demonstrating a proactive approach to community health and safety.

The initiative serves as a model for how sports organizations can leverage their community influence to address critical public health challenges, potentially saving lives through education and preparedness.