NFL’s Chiefs add lifesavers to the chain of survival in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, April 22, 2024 — The American Heart Association and the Kansas City Chiefs brought cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, April 21. More than 200 youth athletes, coaches, league administrators, school athletic directors, and high school coaches attended to learn the lifesaving skills building confidence and capabilities to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency. According to American Heart Association data, nine out of every ten people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

“Early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency is the difference between life and death. When seconds matter it is important to have people nearby who are confident and capable to begin administering CPR. This event with the Kansas City Chiefs is helping to support that critical link in the community” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “As we celebrate 100 years of lifesaving work, we know that with every CPR training we perform we are one step closer to ensuring that everyone, everywhere is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.”

The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. With more bystanders certified with the knowledge of CPR, the chance for a positive recovery increase for the community.

Participants used the Association’s CPR in Youth Sports Kits which include manikins and AED training tools, which will later be donated to continue community education efforts. Hands-Only CPR participants learned the correct rate and depth of compressions and how to use an AED. Compression-only CPR, known as Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

“Having medical professionals trained to respond to cardiac emergencies is incredibly important at all levels and types of sport, and we’ve unfortunately seen that play out publicly at times in the past,” Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance Rick Burkholder said. “More important is making sure that administrators, coaches, parents and athletes themselves have the skills and confidence from CPR and AED training to step in as quickly as possible and be the first piece of a life-saving response effort. This kind of hands-on training also contributes to the preparedness of our communities to save more lives beyond sports stadiums and arenas.”

Last year, the NFL launched The Smart Heart Sports Coalition in collaboration with the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA and others including the American Heart Association. The goal of the national campaign is to prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among high school athletes by advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from SCA among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, as many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience SCA annually (out-of-hospital). It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes. Sports-related SCA accounted for nearly 40% of SCAs among people under the age of 18. If implemented across all 50 states, these simple, cost-effective strategies can prevent deaths from SCA. The Kansas City Chiefs CPR education event supports this work in Kansas City.  

Additional Resources: 

• Multimedia available on the right column of the release link.
• Spanish news release (To be added when available)
• Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF) 
• Hands-Only CPR Resources
• Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths 
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
• Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
• Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. 

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About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

About the Kansas City Chiefs

Founded as the Dallas Texans in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) by sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the franchise moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became known as the Kansas City Chiefs. The team currently competes in the West Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL) and has won four Super Bowl championships. Under the guidance of the Hunt Family and the leadership of Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, the mission of the Kansas City Chiefs is to Win with Character, Unite our Community, Inspire our Fans and Honor Tradition. For more information about the Kansas City Chiefs, visit chiefs.com.