Thousands to Receive Hands-Only CPR Training at NFL Draft Event

The American Heart Association, National Football League, and Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation will provide free Hands-Only CPR training to thousands of participants during the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 24, 2026. This initiative aims to address the critical gap in bystander CPR response, as more than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals do not receive immediate intervention despite CPR doubling or tripling survival chances. Registration for the event is available at https://heart.org/NFLDraft.

Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized the urgency of bystander action, stating that knowing CPR can determine survival during cardiac arrest. The training event represents a collaborative effort to equip communities with lifesaving skills. The initiative connects to the Nation of Lifesavers movement launched after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest during a 2023 Monday Night Football game. Hamlin, who serves as National Ambassador for Nation of Lifesavers, has partnered with the Heart Association to promote CPR education nationwide.

Hamlin described the Pittsburgh training as a full-circle moment, highlighting how his experience demonstrated CPR's lifesaving potential. He expressed hope that the event would encourage health awareness and preparedness among youth and families. Statistics from the American Heart Association reveal that over 90% of sudden cardiac arrest victims without immediate CPR do not survive, making widespread training essential. Hands-Only CPR requires no formal certification and can be learned in about 90 seconds, making large-scale events like this impactful for public health.

The NFL and American Heart Association maintain an ongoing partnership through the NFL Foundation, which provides CPR grants to teams for community training and automated external defibrillator access. Since 2023, grants have supported Hands-Only CPR training, credentialing programs, and CPR kits for schools and youth sports. The collaboration has involved more than half of NFL teams in educating players, staff, coaches, and families. Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, noted the league's commitment to building safer communities by empowering people to respond during medical emergencies.

Hands-Only CPR education is integrated into NFL PLAY 60 youth wellness programs through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, teaching recognition of cardiac arrest, emergency response, and chest compression techniques. With nearly three-quarters of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring in homes, CPR knowledge is vital for family and community safety. The American Heart Association recommends that witnesses to adult or teen collapse immediately call 911 and perform chest compressions at 100-120 beats per minute. Additional resources on CPR are available at https://www.heart.org/nation and https://www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.