The American Heart Association, the National Football League, Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's foundation, and social media doctor Mikhail Varshavski, known as Doctor Mike, will attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the most people to complete CPR training in one hour. The record attempt 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 yet lifesaving skill that can double or triple a person's chance of survival after cardiac arrest.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, often because bystanders do not administer CPR. The organization emphasizes that Hands-Only CPR, which involves chest compressions without rescue breaths, can be learned in as little as 90 seconds and requires no formal training. This large-scale event aims to empower fans, families, and communities with the confidence to act in an emergency.
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."
Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers, experienced cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in 2023. His recovery and advocacy have highlighted the importance of bystander CPR. "As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR saves lives," Hamlin said. "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, a longtime volunteer medical expert with the American Heart Association, expressed his enthusiasm: "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 event is free and open to the public. Registration is available at heart.org/NFLDraft. Participants will also join the Nation of Lifesavers, a movement launched by the American Heart Association in 2023 to increase CPR awareness and training across the country.
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL extends beyond the draft. Through the NFL Foundation, each team receives CPR grants to expand training and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) 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. The American Heart Association has worked with more than half of NFL teams to educate players, staff, youth coaches, and families about cardiac emergency preparedness.
Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, said, "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. We're thrilled to stand alongside the American Heart Association and the Chasing M's Foundation as we aim to set a world record, and, more importantly, equip thousands of people with the skills to make a lifesaving difference."
Hands-Only CPR education is also integrated into NFL PLAY 60 youth health efforts, delivered through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. Students and families learn to recognize cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1, and perform chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Since nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside hospitals occur at home, knowing CPR is critically important for saving loved ones.
The American Heart Association is also advocating for cardiac emergency response plans in all 50 states as a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, established by the NFL to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. The coalition aims to ensure that high school athletic programs are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies.
