FORT WORTH, September 22, 2026 — The American Heart Association is helping make the places North Texans live, work and play more prepared for cardiac emergencies.
At Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football & Cheerleading Association (MCPWFCA), that means putting a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) into action across six sites in Tarrant County, expanding access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and incorporating CPR education and emergency drills into how the league prepares coaches and athletes.
Why it matters: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide, with nearly 75% of cases among young athletes occurring in basketball, football and soccer players. Roughly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, but immediate action can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, according to the American Heart Association.
Local support helps put preparedness into action
The American Heart Association provided MCPWFCA with a CPR Anytime® Kit and six AED subgrants, helping equip all six league sites with lifesaving resources to put the plan into action through support from TTI, Inc.
During the first Saturday of games for the 2026 fall season, league board members, coaches, athletes and families joined the American Heart Association and TTI, Inc. in Euless to recognize the progress and see the impact of these resources firsthand.
Through its Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to empower more people to act during a cardiac emergency, with a goal of doubling survival from cardiac arrest by 2030.
“To build a Nation of Lifesavers we start in the places where communities spend their time, including the fields where kids play and families gather every weekend,” said John Archer, chair of the 2026 Tarrant County Heart Walk and Chief Administrative Officer at TTI, Inc. “Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football & Cheerleading Association is showing what it looks like when a community makes preparedness a priority. It’s having a plan, practicing that plan and giving people the confidence to act when every second counts.”
Archer is leading the upcoming Tarrant County Heart Walk on Sept. 26, where thousands will come together to learn Hands-Only CPR and support the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association. The Dallas Heart Walk follows on Oct. 17, extending the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement across North Texas.
What preparedness looks like on the field
For more than 60 years, MCPWFCA has served Hurst, Euless, Bedford and surrounding communities as a volunteer-run youth football and cheer organization.
Working with the American Heart Association, MCPWFCA has:
- Implemented a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan across six league sites
- Developed customized AED maps and identified strategic AED locations
- Incorporated CPR and AED drills into fall and spring season kickoffs
- Built CPR and AED education into seasonal preparation for coaches and athletes
- Established procedures for AED maintenance, training and response during a cardiac emergency
“You never expect a cardiac emergency to happen on your field, but being prepared is part of the responsibility that comes with serving thousands of athletes and families,” said Kelvin Brown, board chair of MCPWFCA. “As we start our 69th season, we're grateful to the American Heart Association for helping us put a plan in place and connect with supporters to help expand AED access. We hope other youth sports leagues see that taking these steps can help create safer places for children to play and families to gather.”
One league. A model for more North Texas communities.
MCPWFCA’s work demonstrates what a Nation of Lifesavers™ can look like at the community level: people who know how to respond, lifesaving equipment within reach and a plan that has been practiced before an emergency happens.
Youth sports organizations, schools, businesses and community organizations interested in strengthening cardiac emergency preparedness can learn more at cpr.heart.org or contact the North Texas American Heart Association team at northtexas@heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Lindsey Lyons Jones
Phone:
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
