When cardiac arrest strikes, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, yet more than half of people who collapse outside a hospital don’t receive it. To help close that gap, the American Heart Association and the National Football League, along with Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s foundation and Doctor Mike, will attempt the Guinness World Records title for most people to complete CPR training in one hour. The record attempt will take place Friday, April 24, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., during day two of the NFL Draft. The goal is to train 4,000 people in Hands‑Only CPR in just one hour, empowering fans and families with a simple, lifesaving skill they are most likely to use to help someone they know and love. Registration is free at heart.org/NFLDraft.
“Every second matters when someone experiences cardiac arrest and knowing how to perform CPR can be the difference between life and death,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “By bringing thousands of people together at the NFL Draft, we’re teaming up with the league, Damar Hamlin and Doctor Mike to make history and equip individuals with the confidence and skills to act when it matters most.” Participants will also join the Nation of Lifesavers, a global movement launched by the American Heart Association in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of NFL player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football. Hamlin has used his experience to show the lifesaving difference bystander CPR can make through his collaboration with the Heart Association to offer CPR trainings across the country. Hamlin also serves as the National Ambassador for Nation of Lifesavers.
“As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR saves lives,” said Hamlin, Buffalo Bills Safety and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers. “Our world record attempt during the NFL Draft Experience in my hometown of Pittsburgh is a full-circle moment for me, and I’m proud to see the NFL, the American Heart Association, and our community come together to build a life-saving legacy.” More than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest without immediate CPR do not survive, according to the American Heart Association. Yet learning Hands‑Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds and requires no formal training, making large‑scale moments like this one a powerful step to improving survival rates.
The pursuit of this record-setting achievement began as a seed of inspiration from Mikhail Varshavski, aka Doctor Mike, who is a longtime volunteer medical expert with the Association. “It's always been a dream of mine to set a world record for CPR training,” said Doctor Mike. “This one-hour record 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.” Beyond the NFL Draft, the collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL continues year‑round. Through the NFL Foundation, each team receives CPR grants to help expand CPR training and automated external defibrillator (AED) access in local communities. Since 2023, grants have supported Hands‑Only CPR training, Heartsaver CPR AED credentialing, and the placement of CPR in Schools Kits and CPR Youth Sports Kits.
“Through our partnership with the American Heart Association, the NFL is committed to building safer, stronger communities by giving people the knowledge and confidence to act in a medical emergency,” 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 aim to set a world record, and, more importantly, equip thousands of people with the skills to make a lifesaving difference.” Hands‑Only CPR education is also a key component of NFL PLAY 60 youth health and wellness efforts. As a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, the American Heart Association is leading advocacy efforts to secure legislation in all 50 states to implement cardiac emergency response plans in public schools. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. Learn CPR today at heart.org/nation.
