NFL and American Heart Association Launch Health Initiatives for 2024 Season

As the 2024 NFL season approaches, the league has partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) to launch two significant health initiatives aimed at improving physical fitness and cardiac emergency response. The programs, NFL PLAY 60 and Nation of Lifesavers, were unveiled at Three Trails Elementary School in Independence, Missouri, demonstrating a commitment to both youth health and community safety.

NFL PLAY 60, now in its 18th season, encourages children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. This aligns with AHA recommendations for children's health. The program will feature two fitness break broadcasts during the season, with the first airing on September 19, 2024. These 15-minute broadcasts will showcase exercises led by players from teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers.

Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "We're thrilled to kick off our 18th season of PLAY 60 by offering fun and engaging opportunities for youth to get moving in the Kansas City community." The program's reach extends beyond local efforts, with classroom broadcasts planned nationwide.

Complementing NFL PLAY 60 is the Nation of Lifesavers program, which focuses on increasing CPR education and doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. This initiative is particularly crucial given that nearly 75% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in homes. The AHA, as the global leader in resuscitation science, is leveraging its partnership with the NFL to expand CPR training and awareness.

As part of this effort, the Kansas City Chiefs have donated 11 CPR in Youth Sports Kits to area schools and provided CPR training to youth sports coaches. This local action exemplifies the broader goal of improving emergency response capabilities in communities across the country.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, highlighted the significance of these programs: "Engaging children in 60 minutes of play with our longstanding NFL PLAY 60 programming and making sure everyone, everywhere knows how to respond with CPR in a cardiac emergency are two examples of the ways we are working with the NFL to advance health and hope for everyone."

The collaboration between the NFL and AHA extends to in-school programs like Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, which offered incentives such as Super Bowl tickets and school equipment makeovers for completing CPR learning modules in the 2023-2024 school year.

As the NFL season kicks off on September 5 with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens, these health initiatives underscore the league's commitment to community well-being beyond the football field. The programs aim to create lasting impact by promoting active lifestyles among youth and equipping communities with life-saving skills.

For more information on these initiatives, interested parties can visit heart.org/NFLPLAY60 or heart.org/nation. These programs represent a significant step in addressing public health concerns and demonstrate the potential for sports organizations to contribute positively to community health and safety.