On Friday, April 24, during the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the American Heart Association, in collaboration with the National Football League, Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation, and Doctor Mike, instructed 1,293 people in Hands-Only CPR within one hour. This achievement earned a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title and expanded the Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 through CPR education and training.
Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 350,000 people each year, with only 10% surviving. More than half of cardiac arrests outside a hospital occur without bystander CPR, creating a critical gap in survival. However, immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. Hands-Only CPR, which requires no formal training and can be learned in as little as 90 seconds, involves two simple steps: calling 9-1-1 and performing chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute to a depth of approximately two inches.
“Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “This record-setting moment with our incredible collaborators is about more than a number - it represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life. That's how we build a Nation of Lifesavers.”
The record-setting effort was inspired by NFL player Damar Hamlin, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in 2023. Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers, expressed his pride in the community's involvement. “As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives,” said Hamlin. “To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful, 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 Varshavski, a board-certified family medicine physician and leading health influencer, emphasized the importance of the initiative. “Breaking this record shows how quickly people can learn a lifesaving skill,” said Doctor Mike. “In just one hour, nearly 1,300 people learned what the American Heart Association and I say every day, which is ‘chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions.' Providing CPR gives someone the best chance of survival. It can be the difference between life and death for thousands of people every year. Now these people know, the power is in their hands.”
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL continues year-round through community-based CPR education, youth health programs, and national advocacy efforts. With support from the NFL Foundation, teams nationwide are expanding access to CPR training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in local communities. “Today's record reflects what's possible when we come together around a shared purpose,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility. “We're thrilled to stand alongside the American Heart Association and the Chasing M's Foundation as we successfully set a world record, and, more importantly, equip thousands of people with the skills to make a lifesaving difference.”
Nearly three out of four cardiac arrests occur at home, making it essential for more people to know how to respond. To learn Hands-Only CPR, visit www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
