The American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL), along with Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s foundation and social media personality Doctor Mike, will attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the most people to complete CPR training in one hour. The record attempt is scheduled for 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 individuals in Hands-Only CPR, a simple yet potentially lifesaving skill.
The initiative underscores the urgency of increasing bystander CPR rates. According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive without immediate CPR, yet it is often not administered. Learning Hands-Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds and requires no formal certification, making large-scale training events like this a powerful tool to improve survival rates.
“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, who serves as the National Ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers, has used his experience to advocate for CPR training. “As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR saves lives,” said Hamlin, Buffalo Bills Safety. “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.”
The record attempt was inspired by Mikhail Varshavski, known as Doctor Mike, 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.”
The collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL extends beyond the draft. Through the NFL Foundation, each team receives CPR grants to expand 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. The Association has worked with more than half of NFL teams to educate players, staff, youth coaches, and families.
“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, delivered in partnership with the American Heart Association through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. Students and families learn how to recognize cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1, and perform chest compressions.
Additionally, the American Heart Association is a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, established by the NFL to advance evidence-based policies that prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. The Association is working 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. Registration for the free event is open at heart.org/NFLDraft.
