NFL and American Heart Association Partner to Promote CPR Education in Schools

The National Football League (NFL) Foundation and the American Heart Association have joined forces to promote Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) education in schools across the United States. This collaboration offers significant incentives, including Super Bowl tickets and school equipment, to encourage student participation in CPR training programs.

As part of this initiative, five students have been awarded two tickets each to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February 2025. Additionally, five schools have received $10,000 each for physical activity equipment makeovers. These rewards come as part of the American Heart Association's in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, which provide free Hands-Only CPR instruction to students.

The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. According to the American Heart Association, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, partly due to the lack of immediate CPR. Prompt CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. With over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States, and 70% of these happening at home, widespread CPR knowledge is crucial.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the impact of the NFL's involvement, stating that the incentives encouraged more students to engage with and complete the Hands-Only CPR module, expanding the knowledge base to their family members. This collaboration aligns with the Association's goal to double survival rates of cardiac emergencies by 2030.

The NFL's support includes a video introduction by Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety and cardiac arrest survivor, which precedes the online learning module. The NFL Foundation has committed to continuing this support for the 2024-2025 school year, offering more Super Bowl tickets and school equipment makeovers.

This partnership between the NFL and the American Heart Association represents a significant step in public health education. By leveraging the NFL's platform and the American Heart Association's expertise, this initiative has the potential to create a new generation of lifesavers, potentially impacting survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests across the nation.