NFL and American Heart Association Launch CPR Training Initiative at 2025 Green Bay Draft
The American Heart Association and NFL are expanding the Nation of Lifesavers movement, offering free CPR training at the 2025 NFL Draft to increase cardiac arrest survival rates and public preparedness.
The American Heart Association and the National Football League are partnering to combat cardiac arrest deaths by providing free Hands-Only CPR training at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The initiative aims to address a critical public health challenge where currently 9 out of 10 cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals do not survive.
During the draft from April 24-26, the Association's Mobile CPR Unit will be stationed at Lambeau Field, offering walk-up style instruction to teach participants proper CPR compression techniques. This effort is part of a broader commitment to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
The training comes in the wake of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's high-profile cardiac arrest during a 2023 Monday Night Football game, which sparked increased national awareness about emergency cardiac response. Hamlin now serves as the National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers movement.
The initiative has broader implications beyond the draft, with the NFL and American Heart Association working to implement cardiac emergency response plans in schools and advance life-saving policies. Approximately 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals annually, with nearly 40% of these events occurring during sports activities.
By providing accessible CPR training and raising public awareness, the organizations seek to transform bystanders into potential lifesavers, potentially increasing survival rates in critical medical emergencies.