On April 24, during day two of the NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, the American Heart Association taught 1,293 people Hands-Only CPR in one hour, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title. This event aimed to close a critical gap: more than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive CPR before emergency responders arrive. The record-setting effort expands the Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, which seeks to double the survival of sudden cardiac arrest by 2030 through CPR education and training.
“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.” Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 350,000 people every year, with only 10% surviving. Hands‑Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds to learn, requires no formal training, and can double or even triple someone’s chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.
The event brought together the American Heart Association, the National Football League, Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, and Doctor Mike, the most followed doctor on social media. “As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives,” said Hamlin, Buffalo Bills Safety and National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers. “To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful.” The Nation of Lifesavers was launched in 2023 following Hamlin’s sudden cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game.
Doctor Mike, a board-certified family medicine physician and longtime American Heart Association volunteer, also emphasized the importance of the skill. “Breaking this record shows how quickly people can learn a lifesaving skill,” he said. 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 across the country 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. Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests happen at home, making it vital for more people to know how to respond. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should call 9-1-1 and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is for adults; infants and children require traditional CPR with breaths. To learn CPR, visit www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
