Golf Fans to Learn Hands-Only CPR at Dow Championship as American Heart Association Takes Life-Saving Training to Sporting Events
The American Heart Association will offer Hands-Only CPR training at the Dow Championship LPGA event to increase bystander response to cardiac arrest, aiming to double survival rates by 2030.
The American Heart Association is bringing its Nation of Lifesavers Mobile CPR unit to the Dow Championship golf tournament in Midland, Michigan, offering fans walk-up instruction in Hands-Only CPR throughout the event. The initiative aims to address a critical public health challenge: most people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, largely because they do not receive immediate CPR, according to the American Heart Association.
Qualified CPR trainers will teach participants the correct rate and depth of chest compressions, emphasizing that Hands-Only CPR can be just as effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of an emergency. The technique is simple: call 911 if you see a teen or adult collapse, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest. The goal is to increase the number of people ready to act, improving survival outcomes.
The collaboration between the American Heart Association, the LPGA, and Dow, a global materials science leader, is part of the Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. According to the Association, 9 out of every 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, often because they do not receive immediate CPR. When administered right away, CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.
As part of Dow's SOAR Summit during tournament week, featured guests will participate in a fireside chat on resilience and recovery following cardiac events. NFL Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders and National Women's Soccer League player Savy King will join American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown to share personal stories and encourage golf fans to join the Nation of Lifesavers.
"Every second counts when a cardiac arrest occurs, and far too often help doesn't arrive in time because bystanders don't feel prepared to act," said Brown. "Through the Nation of Lifesavers, we're equipping people with the confidence and skills to step in during those critical moments."
Jim Fitterling, chair and CEO of Dow and co-chairperson of the American Heart Association CEO Roundtable, added, "Hosting the Nation of Lifesavers CPR activation at the Dow Championship and convening leaders and athletes at our SOAR Summit reflects our belief in the power of connection, education and action."
The Dow Championship activation is the latest in a series of major sporting events where the American Heart Association has provided CPR training. Previous engagements include Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, LIX in New Orleans, LVIII in Las Vegas, and LVII in Phoenix, as well as NFL drafts in Kansas City, Detroit, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh, and the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis. The Mobile CPR Unit will also appear at several FIFA Fan Festival sites this summer, including New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Dallas.
By bringing CPR training directly to fans, the American Heart Association, Dow, and the LPGA aim to ensure communities are better prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies where they live, work, and play.