The American Heart Association, the National Football League (NFL), Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's foundation, and social media influencer Doctor Mike will attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the most people to complete CPR training in one hour. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 24, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during day two of the NFL Draft. The goal is to train 4,000 individuals in Hands-Only CPR, a simple technique that can double or triple survival rates from cardiac arrest.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital without immediate CPR do not survive. Yet, learning Hands-Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds. The record attempt aims to close the gap in bystander response, as more than half of cardiac arrest victims do not receive CPR from witnesses. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, stated, 'Every second matters when someone experiences cardiac arrest and knowing how to perform CPR can be the difference between life and death. By bringing thousands of people together at the NFL Draft, we’re teaming up with the league, Damar Hamlin and Doctor Mike to make history and equip individuals with the confidence and skills to act when it matters most.'
Participants will also join the Nation of Lifesavers, a movement launched by the American Heart Association in 2023 after Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game. Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers, emphasized the importance of the event: 'As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR saves lives. Our world record attempt during the NFL Draft Experience in my hometown of Pittsburgh is a full-circle moment for me, and I’m proud to see the NFL, the American Heart Association, and our community come together to build a life-saving legacy.'
Doctor Mike, known for his social media presence and advocacy for Hands-Only CPR, expressed excitement about the record attempt: 'It's always been a dream of mine to set a world record for CPR training. This one-hour record emphasizes how quick and simple it can be for laypeople to learn a life-saving skill, so they can be the help before someone like me arrives in an emergency.'
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL extends beyond this event. Through the NFL Foundation, grants are provided to teams for CPR training and AED access in local communities. Since 2023, these grants have supported Hands-Only CPR training, Heartsaver CPR AED credentialing, and the placement of CPR in Schools Kits and CPR Youth Sports Kits. Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, stated, '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.'
Hands-Only CPR education is also integrated into NFL PLAY 60 youth health efforts, delivered through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. The American Heart Association, as a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, advocates for policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students, working to implement cardiac emergency response plans in public schools across all 50 states.
With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occurring at home, knowing Hands-Only CPR is critically important. Registration for the record attempt is free and open at heart.org/NFLDraft. Additional resources and information on Hands-Only CPR can be found at heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
