The American Heart Association is hosting a free one-hour webinar on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. CT to equip youth sports coaches and league leaders with the tools needed to respond to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death among student-athletes. Nearly 75% of SCA cases in young athletes occur during basketball, football, and soccer, according to a study published in Clinical Cardiology.
Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of thousands of young people each year. In fact, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes, according to the American Heart Association. The webinar aims to change these statistics by providing practical guidance on implementing Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs), which are critical for ensuring prompt action during an emergency.
“Every athlete deserves to play in an environment that is prepared for the unexpected. When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, having a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan in place and people who know how to act can make the difference between life and death,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Through our work with the NFL Foundation, we're helping equip coaches with the knowledge, resources and confidence they need to create safer environments for young athletes and their families.”
The webinar will cover the essential components of an effective CERP, including preparedness strategies, AED access, and emergency action protocols. Participants will learn what actions to take before, during, and after a cardiac emergency, as well as safe play practices that help protect athletes and build confidence among families and communities.
This initiative is part of the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which aims to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030. The organization notes that about 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, often because CPR is not started quickly enough. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chances of survival.
The webinar also aligns with the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, launched by the NFL in collaboration with the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, and the American Heart Association. The coalition advocates for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students.
Advanced online registration is required for the webinar. To register, visit the Heart of the Game Webinar page.
