The American Heart Association, National Football League, and Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation will train thousands of people in Hands-Only CPR during the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 24, 2026. This free public training aims to address the critical gap in bystander response, as more than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals do not receive immediate CPR despite its potential to double or triple survival chances.
Registration for the event is available at https://heart.org/NFLDraft. The initiative represents a significant collaboration between health organizations and professional sports to build community resilience against cardiac emergencies. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized that "every second matters when someone experiences cardiac arrest and knowing how to perform CPR can be the difference between life and death."
The training event connects directly to the Nation of Lifesavers movement launched by the American Heart Association following Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during a 2023 NFL game. Hamlin, who serves as National Ambassador for Nation of Lifesavers, stated that "training in CPR during the NFL Draft Experience in my hometown of Pittsburgh is a full-circle moment for me." He highlighted the importance of being prepared to save lives, particularly since nearly three out of four cardiac arrests outside hospitals occur in homes.
Hands-Only CPR requires no formal training and can be learned in as little as 90 seconds, making large-scale training events particularly effective for improving public readiness. The technique involves calling 911 and performing chest compressions at 100-120 beats per minute to approximately two inches depth. More than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest without immediate CPR do not survive, according to American Heart Association statistics.
Beyond the draft event, the NFL Foundation provides CPR grants to all teams to expand training and automated external defibrillator access in local communities. Since 2023, these grants have supported Hands-Only CPR training, credentialing programs, and placement of CPR kits in schools and youth sports organizations. The American Heart Association has collaborated with more than half of NFL teams to educate players, staff, coaches, and families about cardiac emergency response.
Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, noted that "through our partnership with the American Heart Association, the NFL is committed to building safer, stronger communities by giving people the knowledge and confidence to act in a medical emergency." The partnership also integrates CPR education into NFL PLAY 60 youth health initiatives through programs like the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge.
This large-scale training event demonstrates how major public gatherings can serve as platforms for critical health education. By leveraging the NFL Draft's visibility, organizers aim to create a multiplier effect as trained individuals return to their communities equipped with lifesaving skills. The collaboration represents an ongoing commitment to addressing cardiac arrest survival disparities through accessible education and community empowerment.
