Houston Texans and American Heart Association Train Youth Sports Coaches in CPR, Addressing Leading Cause of Death for Student-Athletes
The Houston Texans partnered with the American Heart Association to train nearly 100 youth sports coaches in CPR and AED use, addressing the fact that sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death for student-athletes.
As National CPR Week begins, the Houston Texans and the American Heart Association have taken a significant step to address a critical gap in youth sports safety. On May 30, nearly 100 youth sports coaches from the Texans Showcase League and Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association received hands-on training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The training comes at a time when the stakes could not be higher. According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive without immediate CPR. For young athletes, the risk is particularly acute. The 2026 American Heart Association Statistical Update reports that nearly 40% of sudden cardiac arrests in youth under 18 are related to sports activities, making it a leading cause of death for student-athletes. With more than half of youth under 18 participating in sports, the need for prepared coaches is urgent.
CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person's chance of survival. The training is part of the Texans' commitment to improve bystander CPR and support the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which aims to double survival rates of cardiac arrest by 2030. Each participating coach received a CPR Anytime Kit to share the training with other coaches, parents, and volunteers, helping extend these skills across youth sports programs. The Houston Texans also donated three AEDs to the F.U.N. Football League, this year's Texans Showcase League, to support emergency response readiness.
“When seconds matter it is important to have people nearby who are confident and capable of beginning CPR. Through our collaboration with the Houston Texans, we’re empowering coaches with the skills to act in a cardiac emergency,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Through this effort, youth sports coaches are gaining the confidence and skills to act quickly and help protect the athletes in their care.”
The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. Hands-Only CPR, which is effective for teens and adults, is as simple as calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. In 2023, the NFL launched The Smart Heart Sports Coalition in collaboration with the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, the American Heart Association, and others. The coalition advocates for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to help prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. Implementing these simple, cost-effective strategies across all 50 states can save lives.
The training of youth sports coaches in Houston represents a tangible step toward ensuring that more young athletes have a fighting chance if cardiac arrest strikes. As the American Heart Association notes, with more people ready to perform CPR, chances of a positive recovery increase.