The Los Angeles Rams have partnered with the American Heart Association to provide comprehensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to representatives from 22 local schools, potentially transforming community emergency response capabilities.
Nearly 90% of people experiencing cardiac arrest outside hospitals die, often due to delayed CPR intervention. By training school representatives, the initiative aims to increase immediate emergency response readiness and potentially save lives. The program distributed CPR in Schools kits to participating institutions, each containing 10 Hands-Only CPR manikins and 10 AED training tools.
The training aligns with broader national efforts, including the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which seeks to implement evidence-based policies preventing fatal cardiac outcomes among students. Annually, approximately 23,000 individuals under 18 experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, with nearly 40% related to sports activities.
Compression-only CPR can double or triple survival chances when performed immediately. The Rams' initiative extends beyond athletic contexts, empowering educators, students, and staff with critical lifesaving skills that could prove crucial in emergency situations.
