Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 16, 2025

NFL & Heart Association Launch 2025 CPR Lifesaver Ambassadors

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Original Source

TLDR

  • The NFL partnership with the American Heart Association provides teams with CPR grants to enhance community safety programs and strengthen local engagement.
  • The American Heart Association and NFL launched 30 player ambassadors to promote Hands-Only CPR training, which takes 90 seconds and can double survival rates.
  • This initiative aims to build a nation of lifesavers by increasing CPR awareness and training, potentially saving thousands from cardiac arrest each year.
  • Damar Hamlin serves as National Ambassador for this program, which began after his own cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game.

Impact - Why it Matters

This initiative addresses a critical public health crisis where immediate CPR can double or triple survival rates for cardiac arrest victims. With over half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims not receiving timely CPR and a resulting 90% fatality rate, widespread CPR education represents one of the most effective ways to save lives in communities. The partnership leverages the massive platform and influence of the NFL to reach millions of Americans, making CPR training accessible and culturally relevant. Since nearly 75% of cardiac arrests occur at home, this knowledge could mean the difference between life and death for family members, friends, or colleagues. The program's focus on youth through school initiatives and sports coalition work also addresses cardiac arrest as a leading cause of death among student-athletes, creating safer environments for young people nationwide.

Summary

The American Heart Association and National Football League have launched the 2025 Nation of Lifesavers™ Player Ambassador Class on World Restart a Heart Day, featuring 30 current NFL players dedicated to promoting CPR education. This initiative represents a powerful collaboration between one of America's most popular sports leagues and the nation's leading cardiovascular health organization. The ambassador class includes prominent players from every NFL team, with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin serving as National Ambassador, bringing personal credibility to the campaign following his own high-profile cardiac arrest during a 2023 game. These players will amplify public service announcements, create social media content, and participate in local community education events to spread awareness about the critical importance of CPR training.

The announcement coincides with special World Restart a Heart Day activities during the Thursday Night Football™ game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, including free Hands-Only CPR education in the pregame fan zone and recognition of bystander CPR heroes with the Heartsaver Hero Award. The statistics driving this initiative are sobering: over half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals don't receive immediate CPR, leading to a 90% fatality rate. However, learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances, making this one of the most accessible and impactful health interventions available to the general public. The program represents the second annual ambassador class and supports the Association's broader Nation of Lifesavers movement that launched following Hamlin's cardiac emergency.

Beyond the ambassador program, the NFL Foundation provides CPR grants to each team to increase CPR and AED access in communities, funding Hands-Only CPR training, credentialing programs, and educational kits for schools and youth sports. The partnership extends to the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for evidence-based policies to prevent fatal cardiac outcomes among high school athletes. With nearly three out of four cardiac arrests occurring in homes, this initiative emphasizes that everyone should know how to perform CPR, as immediate action can mean the difference between life and death. The American Heart Association, as the global leader in CPR science and education for over 60 years, aims to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030 through these comprehensive community engagement efforts.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, NFL & Heart Association Launch 2025 CPR Lifesaver Ambassadors

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