NFL Draft to Train 4,000 in CPR, Break World Record

Imagine saving a life in the time it takes to watch a music video. That's the power of CPR, and on April 24, thousands of people in Pittsburgh will learn how to do exactly that while making history.

The American Heart Association, NFL, and Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin are attempting to break the Guinness World Record for most people trained in CPR in one hour. The goal is 4,000 people learning Hands-Only CPR at Acrisure Stadium during the NFL Draft, and anyone can join for free.

The stakes couldn't be higher. More than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest without immediate CPR don't survive. Yet when someone collapses outside a hospital, more than half receive no help at all, even though bystander CPR can double or triple their chance of survival.

For Hamlin, this moment brings everything full circle. In 2023, he experienced cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football and survived because someone knew CPR. Now he's bringing that lifesaving knowledge back to his hometown as National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched after his own close call.

"You never know when it could be your time to save a life," Hamlin said. The beauty of Hands-Only CPR is its simplicity: push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. No mouth-to-mouth, no formal certification required, and the basics take just 90 seconds to learn.

The idea sparked from Doctor Mike, the most followed doctor on social media, who dreamed of setting a CPR training world record. "This emphasizes how quick and simple it can be for laypeople to learn a life-saving skill, so they can be the help before someone like me arrives in an emergency," he explained.

The Ripple Effect

This record attempt represents just one day in a much larger mission. Since 2023, the NFL Foundation has provided CPR grants to every team, expanding training and placing automated external defibrillators in communities nationwide. The league has partnered with more than half of NFL teams to educate players, staff, youth coaches, and families.

The American Heart Association is also leading the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, pushing for cardiac emergency response plans in all 50 state public school systems. Through NFL PLAY 60 programs, kids across America are learning to recognize cardiac arrest, call 911, and take action.

Registration for the April 24 event is open now at heart.org/NFLDraft. Whether you're an NFL fan or simply want to protect the people you love, this hour could give you the confidence to act when seconds matter most.