More than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital don't receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before emergency responders arrive, leaving a critical gap in survival. On Friday, April 24, nearly 1,300 people learned Hands-Only CPR during the NFL Draft, helping close that gap.
During day two of the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., American Heart Association instructors taught 1,293 people Hands-Only CPR in one hour, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title and expanding the Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, focused on doubling the survival of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 through CPR education and training. This effort, led by the American Heart Association alongside the National Football League, Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation and Dr. Mike Varshavski (Doctor Mike), brought together fans, volunteers and community members to build confidence and skills that can help save lives when it matters most.
“Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “This record-setting moment with our incredible collaborators is about more than a number - it represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life. That’s how we build a Nation of Lifesavers.”
Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 350,000 people every year. Only 10% survive. But ordinary people have extraordinary power with this simple, two-step skill. Hands‑Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds to learn, requires no formal training, and can double or even triple someone’s chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.
Participants joined the growing Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched by the American Heart Association in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football. Since its launch, the initiative has focused on expanding CPR education, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and building confidence to act in an emergency.
“As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives,” said Hamlin, Buffalo Bills Safety and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers. “To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful, and I’m proud to see the NFL, the American Heart Association, and our community come together to build a life-saving legacy.”
The record-setting effort was inspired by longtime American Heart Association volunteer, leading health influencer and board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Mike Varshavski, known as Doctor Mike to his 30 million social media followers.
“Breaking this record shows how quickly people can learn a lifesaving skill,” said Doctor Mike. “In just one hour, nearly 1,300 people learned what the American Heart Association and I say every day, which is ‘chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions.’ Providing CPR gives someone the best chance of survival. It can be the difference between life and death for thousands of people every year. Now these people know, the power is in their hands.”
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL continues year-round through community-based CPR education, youth health programs and national advocacy efforts. Through support from the NFL Foundation, teams across the country are helping expand access to CPR training and AEDs in local communities, helping them better prepare for cardiac emergencies where people live, work and play.
“Today’s record reflects what’s possible when we come together around a shared purpose,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility. “We’re thrilled to stand alongside the American Heart Association and the Chasing M’s Foundation as we successfully set a world record, and, more importantly, equip thousands of people with the skills to make a lifesaving difference.”
Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests happen at home, making it important for more people to know how to respond. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately take action calling 9-1-1 emergency services and beginning chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR for adults. Infants and children require traditional CPR with breaths. Learn CPR today at www.heart.org/nation.
Additional resources, including a bystander CPR infographic and Hands-Only CPR vs. CPR with breaths comparison, are available through the American Heart Association. Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
