Raiders and American Heart Association Boost School Safety with CPR Training Initiative

The Las Vegas Raiders have taken a significant step toward improving cardiac emergency preparedness in local schools by providing CPR training and essential equipment to 12 Las Vegas educational institutions. The initiative, launched in partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), comes at a crucial time when nearly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals do not survive, largely due to delayed CPR response.

The program's significance extends beyond the immediate training session, as each participating school received a CPR in Schools kit containing 10 Hands-Only CPR manikins and AED training tools. Three schools were also equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), substantially enhancing their emergency response capabilities.

This initiative carries particular weight given that approximately 23,000 people under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals annually, with almost 40% of cases being sports-related. The timing aligns with the NFL's broader 2023 Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which aims to implement life-saving cardiac emergency policies across all 50 states.

'Early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency are the difference between life and death,' said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, highlighting the program's potential impact. With nearly three-quarters of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring in homes, the training could have far-reaching effects as students and staff carry these skills into their communities.

The initiative represents a significant investment in public health safety, particularly considering that immediate CPR can double or triple survival chances. By equipping schools with both knowledge and resources, the program creates multiple points of preparedness within the community, potentially saving lives during the critical minutes following cardiac arrest.