American Heart Association Leverages HBCU Football Game to Promote Heart Health Awareness and CPR Training
TL;DR
The American Heart Association's HCM awareness campaign provides life-saving knowledge that could give athletes and communities a critical advantage in preventing sudden cardiac death.
The American Heart Association educated fans about HCM detection and Hands-Only CPR techniques through interactive zones and QR code resources at a college football game.
This initiative builds stronger communities by empowering people with heart health knowledge and CPR skills to save lives and improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
Legendary players DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick's college teams competed while fans learned about heart conditions affecting 1 in 500 young people and life-saving CPR.
The American Heart Association brought critical heart health education to Lincoln Financial Field during the Battle of the Legends college football game featuring former NFL stars DeSean Jackson's Delaware State Hornets and Michael Vick's Norfolk State Spartans. The organization established an interactive pregame "Heart Health Zone" focused on raising awareness about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and teaching Hands-Only CPR techniques to attendees.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy represents the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes according to the American Heart Association. The condition involves thickening and stiffening of the heart walls, which limits the heart's ability to properly fill and pump blood. Statistics indicate that approximately 1 in every 500 young people in the United States has HCM, yet the condition frequently goes undiagnosed, creating significant health risks for athletes and active individuals.
The Association's presence at the HBCU sporting event reflects its broader initiative to ensure all communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in healthcare, have access to essential health knowledge and resources. Jennifer Litchman-Green, executive director of the American Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia, emphasized that "heart health belongs everywhere - in our homes, our schools and even at the 50-yard line." She noted that many people remain unaware of how widespread HCM is and lack confidence in responding to cardiac emergencies.
Throughout the evening, fans received practical CPR instruction, learning the correct rate and depth of compressions through walk-up style education opportunities. Attendees also received business cards containing QR codes linking to additional resources about HCM, Hands-Only CPR, and information about starting Heart Clubs at schools. The Association encouraged fans to visit https://Heart.org/HCMStudentAthlete and https://Heart.org/Nation to continue their education and share resources within their personal networks.
This community activation supports the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. By reaching fans and families in familiar environments like sporting events, the organization works to build stronger, more informed communities capable of protecting and saving lives. The Association's HCM awareness and education efforts for athletes receive partial funding through a grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, enabling broader reach and impact across diverse populations.
Curated from NewMediaWire