NFL Draft CPR Training Sets Record With 1,293 Lifesavers

Learning to save a life took less time than a halftime show for 1,293 people at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh last Friday.

The American Heart Association, the NFL, and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin joined forces at Acrisure Stadium to teach Hands-Only CPR during day two of the draft. In just 60 minutes, they trained enough people to earn a Guinness World Record and expand the Nation of Lifesavers movement.

The stakes couldn't be higher. More than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital never receive CPR before paramedics arrive. That gap costs lives.

But the fix is remarkably simple. Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds to learn and can double or even triple someone's chance of survival.

"This record-setting moment is about more than a number," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "It represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life."

The event held special meaning for Hamlin, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in 2023. His recovery inspired the Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.

"To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful," Hamlin said. Nearly three out of four cardiac arrests happen at home, making bystander response critical.

Doctor Mike Varshavski, a family physician with 30 million social media followers, helped inspire the record attempt. His message is simple: chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions.

If someone collapses, witnesses should immediately call 911 and start pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest at 100 to 120 beats per minute. No mouth-to-mouth required for adults.

The Ripple Effect

Cardiac arrest affects 350,000 Americans every year, and only 10% survive. But ordinary people now have extraordinary power to change those odds.

Through NFL Foundation support, teams across the country are expanding access to CPR training and automated external defibrillators in local communities. The American Heart Association and NFL partnership continues year-round through community programs and youth health initiatives.

Each person trained at the draft became a potential lifesaver, ready to act when seconds matter most. They joined millions in the Nation of Lifesavers movement, building confidence to respond during emergencies where people live, work, and play.

The power to save a life is literally in their hands now.