The American Heart Association (AHA) is partnering with the National Football League (NFL) to offer Hands-Only CPR training at Super Bowl LX Experience in San Francisco. The AHA’s Nation of Lifesavers Mobile CPR Unit will be stationed at the Moscone Convention Center from Feb. 3 to Feb. 7, providing walk-up instruction to attendees. Participants will learn correct compression rate and depth, a skill that can double or triple survival chances in cardiac emergencies.
According to the AHA, Hands-Only CPR is as effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of an emergency. The technique involves calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. Nancy Brown, AHA CEO, emphasized the impact: “Teaching fans CPR during the Super Bowl Experience transforms one of the world’s biggest sporting events into a powerful opportunity for public health impact.” The collaboration aims to add more people to the Nation of Lifesavers movement, which seeks to double survival rates by 2030.
Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death, with 9 out of 10 victims dying partly because immediate CPR is not performed. The AHA notes that nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occur at home, making bystander CPR critical. The NFL and AHA are also celebrating five students who won Super Bowl LX tickets through school programs like Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. These students learned Hands-Only CPR, and their schools are eligible for a $10,000 physical education makeover. Schools can enter to win tickets to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.
Additionally, 32 NFL players serve as Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassadors, including Damar Hamlin (Buffalo Bills) and others, urging fans to learn CPR. Since 2023, the AHA has worked with over half of NFL teams to train players, staff, and fans. The Mobile CPR Unit has appeared at previous Super Bowls and NFL Drafts, and will visit the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The AHA encourages everyone to learn Hands-Only CPR in 90 seconds at heart.org/nation.
