Oklahoma State Basketball Team Joins American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers

The Oklahoma State University (OSU) men's basketball team has taken a significant step towards improving community health by participating in the American Heart Association's Hands-Only CPR training. This initiative is part of the Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by 2030.

The importance of this training cannot be overstated. According to American Heart Association data, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, partly because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. However, CPR performed immediately can double or triple a person's chance of survival.

In addition to learning this lifesaving skill, the OSU basketball team integrated CPR awareness into their recent game against Southern Methodist University. The team raised funds for the American Heart Association through the Eddie Sutton Foundation and donated two CPR in Schools kits to local high schools, underwritten by Devon Energy.

These kits, which include training manikins and AED training resources, will continue to deliver community education on the correct technique for CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This initiative is particularly crucial given that nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of hospitals occur in homes.

The event aligns with recent legislative progress in Oklahoma. As part of the Smart Hearts Sports Coalition, the American Heart Association successfully advocated for a statewide policy requiring cardiac emergency response plans in all public schools and school athletic facilities. This policy, signed into law in July 2024, will better prepare 1,805 public school sites to respond to cardiac emergencies.

The American Heart Association's efforts, supported by initiatives like OSU's, are part of a broader push to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. With as many as 23,000 children under 18 experiencing cardiac arrest outside of hospitals annually, and about 40% of those occurring among student-athletes, these initiatives are vital for saving young lives.

By participating in this training and raising awareness, the OSU basketball team is not only preparing themselves to respond in emergencies but also inspiring their community to learn this critical skill. As more individuals become trained in Hands-Only CPR, the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims increase, potentially saving thousands of lives across the country.