The American Heart Association is hosting a free one-hour webinar on September 30 at 1 p.m. CT to help youth sports coaches and league leaders prepare for cardiac emergencies. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide, with nearly 75% of cases among young athletes occurring in basketball, football and soccer players, according to a study published in Clinical Cardiology (https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.24095).
The webinar, titled "Heart of the Game," will focus on Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERP) and safe play practices. It is part of the association's Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized that having a CERP and trained responders can be the difference between life and death. "Every athlete deserves to play in an environment that is prepared for the unexpected," she said.
Attendees will learn the essential components of an effective CERP, including preparedness strategies, AED access, and emergency action protocols. They will also identify actions to take before, during, and after a cardiac emergency, and apply safe play practices to protect athletes and build confidence among families and communities.
The American Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science and training, publishing the official guidelines for CPR. According to the association, roughly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, often because CPR is not started quickly enough. Immediate action can double or triple survival chances.
The webinar aligns with the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, launched by the NFL in 2023 with founding members including the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, and the American Heart Association. The coalition advocates for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. More than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes.
Advanced online registration is required. To register, visit the Heart of the Game Webinar page (https://www.heart.org/en/events/events-for-healthcare-professionals/heart-of-the-game-webinar).
