NFL Players Join American Heart Association to Promote Lifesaving CPR Education

In a significant move to combat the high mortality rate of sudden cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Football League (NFL) are joining forces to promote widespread cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education. This collaboration comes as recent survey data shows an increase in Americans' readiness to perform CPR in emergencies, rising from 30% to 35% between 2021 and 2023.

The partnership's cornerstone is the 2024-2025 Nation of Lifesaver Ambassador Class, comprised of current NFL players who will champion CPR awareness through public service announcements, social media campaigns, and community events. This initiative is part of the broader Nation of Lifesavers movement launched by the AHA in 2023, following the on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the critical nature of this effort: "CPR education is crucial to saving lives and improving outcomes in a cardiac emergency. Together with the NFL and this ambassador class, we are proud to empower communities to act fast and be ready and able to respond with the lifesaving skill of CPR."

The collaboration extends beyond professional athletes to grassroots efforts. The NFL Foundation is providing CPR grants to each team, funding Hands-Only CPR training, Heartsaver CPR AED courses, and the placement of CPR kits in schools and youth sports programs. Additionally, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being distributed to local youth sports programs, schools, and community areas.

This initiative is particularly significant given that nearly 75% of cardiac arrests outside hospitals occur in homes. The AHA reports that immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. However, more than half of sudden cardiac arrest victims don't receive immediate CPR, resulting in a 90% mortality rate.

The partnership also focuses on educating younger generations. Children as young as 9 can perform CPR, while those as young as 4 can support by calling 911. To incentivize learning, students who master Hands-Only CPR through school programs can win Super Bowl tickets, with their schools eligible for substantial physical education grants.

Furthermore, the NFL and AHA are part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, advocating for all 50 states to adopt policies preventing fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. This is crucial as up to 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes.

The collaboration between the NFL and AHA represents a significant step towards creating a nation of lifesavers. By leveraging the popularity of professional football and the expertise of the AHA, this initiative has the potential to dramatically increase the number of people capable of performing CPR in emergencies. As the program expands and more people become trained, it could lead to a substantial increase in survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.