During the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 24, a record-breaking CPR training event equipped nearly 1,300 people with lifesaving skills. The American Heart Association, in collaboration with the National Football League, Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, and social media influencer Doctor Mike, taught 1,293 individuals Hands-Only CPR in just one hour, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title. This effort is part of the Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 through expanded CPR education and training.
Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 350,000 people annually, with only 10% surviving. More than half of those who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive CPR before emergency responders arrive. However, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “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.”
The Nation of Lifesavers was launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin during a Monday Night Football game. Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety and National Ambassador for the initiative, expressed his pride in the hometown effort. “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, and I’m proud to see the NFL, the American Heart Association, and our community come together to build a life-saving legacy,” he said.
The record-setting training was inspired by Dr. Mike Varshavski, known as Doctor Mike, a board-certified family medicine physician with 30 million social media followers. He highlighted the simplicity of the skill, noting, “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. It can be the difference between life and death for thousands of people every year.”
Hands-Only CPR is a simple, two-step skill that takes as little as 90 seconds to learn and requires no formal training. It involves calling 9-1-1 and performing chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of about two inches. Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occur at home, making it crucial for more people to know how to respond. The American Heart Association provides resources to learn Hands-Only CPR at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL continues year-round through community-based CPR education, youth health programs, and national advocacy efforts. Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, remarked, “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.”
