The American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL), together 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, Pennsylvania, during the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft. The goal is to train 4,000 individuals in Hands-Only CPR, a technique that can double or triple survival rates from cardiac arrest when performed immediately.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, partly because more than half of victims do not receive bystander CPR. The event aims to close this gap by empowering fans and families with a simple, lifesaving skill. Registration is free and open at heart.org/NFLDraft.
“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 join the Nation of Lifesavers, a 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, emphasized the personal significance of the event. “As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR saves lives,” said Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety and Pittsburgh native. “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.”
Learning Hands-Only CPR takes as little as 90 seconds and requires no formal training, making large-scale events a powerful step toward improving survival rates. Doctor Mike, a longtime volunteer medical expert with the American Heart Association, noted, “It's always been a dream of mine to set a world record for CPR training. 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, these grants have supported Hands-Only CPR training and the placement of CPR in Schools Kits and CPR Youth Sports Kits. “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.
Hands-Only CPR education is also a key component of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and wellness initiative delivered in partnership with the American Heart Association. Students and families learn to recognize cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1, and perform chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. The American Heart Association is also leading advocacy efforts through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to implement cardiac emergency response plans in public schools nationwide. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occurring at home, the ability to perform CPR is critically important. The record attempt underscores the message that anyone can learn Hands-Only CPR and potentially save a life.
