AHA and NFL Team Up to Save Lives Through CPR Training at 2025 NFL Draft

The collaboration between the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Football League (NFL) marks a significant step forward in public health education, specifically targeting the improvement of emergency response to cardiac arrests. During the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the AHA's Nation of Lifesavers Mobile CPR Unit will offer free, walk-up CPR training to the public. This initiative is not just about teaching a life-saving skill; it's about changing the grim statistic that 9 out of 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive.

Inspired by the harrowing incident involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023, this campaign has found a powerful advocate in Hamlin himself. Now serving as the National Ambassador for the initiative, Hamlin's story underscores the importance of immediate action in cardiac emergencies. The simplicity of Hands-Only CPR—calling 911 and performing chest compressions—makes it accessible to everyone, potentially doubling or tripling a victim's chance of survival.

The AHA's goal to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030 is ambitious but achievable with widespread education and training. The organization is also pushing for legislative changes in Wisconsin to implement cardiac emergency response plans in public schools, addressing the thousands of children who experience cardiac arrests outside hospitals each year. This initiative, supported by the NFL's commitment to expanding CPR training access, represents a critical effort to empower bystanders to become lifesavers, potentially saving countless lives in the process.