Nearly 1,300 Learn Hands-Only CPR at NFL Draft, Setting Guinness World Record

PITTSBURGH - On Friday, April 24, during the second day of the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium, the American Heart Association (AHA) taught 1,293 people Hands-Only CPR in one hour, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title. The event, held in collaboration with the National Football League, Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, and Dr. Mike Varshavski (known as Doctor Mike), aimed to expand the AHA's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which seeks to double the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 through CPR education and training.

More than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive CPR before emergency responders arrive. According to the AHA, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, stated, “This record-setting moment with our incredible collaborators is about more than a number - it represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life. That’s how we build a Nation of Lifesavers.”

Cardiac arrest affects 350,000 people annually in the United States, with only 10% surviving. Hands-Only CPR, which involves chest compressions without rescue breaths, takes as little as 90 seconds to learn and can significantly improve outcomes. Participants joined the Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game. Hamlin, now a national ambassador for the initiative, said, “As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives. To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful.”

The record-setting effort was inspired by Dr. Mike Varshavski, a board-certified family medicine physician and health influencer with 30 million social media followers. He emphasized, “Breaking this record shows how quickly people can learn a lifesaving skill. In just one hour, nearly 1,300 people learned what the American Heart Association and I say every day, which is ‘chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions.’ Providing CPR gives someone the best chance of survival.”

The collaboration between the AHA and the NFL continues year-round through community-based CPR education, youth health programs, and advocacy. Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, noted, “Today’s record reflects what’s possible when we come together around a shared purpose. We’re thrilled to stand alongside the American Heart Association and the Chasing M’s Foundation as we successfully set a world record, and, more importantly, equip thousands of people with the skills to make a lifesaving difference.”

Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occur at home, underscoring the importance of widespread CPR training. Witnesses should call 9-1-1 and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute and a depth of two inches. Hands-Only CPR is recommended for adults, while infants and children require traditional CPR with breaths. More information is available at heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.