NASHVILLE, TN, June 25, 2024 — Members of the Middle Tennessee State University football team (MTSU) joined the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers by participating in a Hands-Only CPR training. They learned the correct rate and depth of CPR compressions and be confident and capable when faced with a cardiac emergency.

"Being able to deliver care in emergencies is extremely important in all walks of life, especially in sports," said Derek Mason, MTSU head football coach. "This is a great partnership, and we appreciate the work and teaching the American Heart Association did with our football team recently. You never have enough people who can administer CPR and respond to emergencies. We embrace the responsibility to provide as much knowledge as possible to our players and staff.”

Coaches and players learned this lifesaving skill that, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. According to the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, nine out of every 10 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.

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.

“CPR can help save lives,” said Dr. Katherine Y. Brown, founder of Learn CPR America who led the training. “Do what you can for as long as you can because it makes a difference. It’s one simple message that can help double or triple survival rates because, right now, people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests don’t always get the CPR they need.” 

The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official 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. More than 350,000 people in the US have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year.

In 2023, 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 are designed to prevent fatal outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest among high school students. The Smart Heart Act was signed into law in Tennessee this past May.

As many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest annually (out-of-hospital). It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes. Sports-related sudden cardiac arrests accounted for nearly 40% of sudden cardiac arrests among people under the age of 18. If implemented across all 50 states, these simple, cost-effective strategies can prevent deaths.

For more information about CPR visit heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. To learn about the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission in Middle TN, contact nashvilletn@heart.org.

 

Additional Resources:

 

###

 

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.   

 

For Media Inquiries:

Sophie Marini, Sophie.marini@heart.org