Turning Bystanders into Lifesavers: A Winning Game Plan from the AHA
When Damar Hamlin collapsed during the January 2023 NFL game, hearts around the nation stopped, not just in the stadium, but everywhere across America. In those ten crucial seconds, when CPR was administered swiftly, fans witnessed both tragedy and triumph. That moment launched the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Nation of Lifesavers, an initiative launched in partnership with the NFL in 2024 designed to equip everyday Americans with lifesaving CPR skills.
Now in 2025, Major League Baseball is stepping up to the plate.
From NFL Arenas to All-Star Village: A Nationwide Movement
The NFL’s 2024 collaboration with the AHA truly hit its stride. Following Hamlin’s recovery, the league helped rally support for CPR training, a vital link in the chain of survival. According to AHA data, nearly 9 out of 10 cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals die, largely because bystanders don’t administer CPR.
Now MLB has joined the fray. During the 2025 MLB All-Star Game events from July 12–15, the AHA and MLB are offering Hands‑Only CPR instruction at the Capital One All-Star Village in Atlanta.
Why Hands-Only CPR? Simplicity Saves Lives
Hands‑Only CPR teaches just two steps:
Call 911
Push hard and fast on the center of the chest, about 100–120 compressions per minute.
No mouth-to-mouth required. It's designed to be easy for anyone to learn in 90 seconds, and it's remarkably effective in the first few minutes after cardiac arrest.
Jon Coyles, Senior VP at MLB stated, “As a proud member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition and supporter of the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, MLB is honored to provide a platform for the Association to turn more bystanders into lifesavers and prepare more of our fans to be trained on lifesaving skills when faced with a cardiac emergency”.
Sports & Heart Health: A Powerful Alliance
The MLB partnership marks the first-ever MLB event to host this training, and the eighth major league sporting event overall. The AHA has previously brought CPR training to:
Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans
NFL Drafts (2023 Kansas City, 2024 Detroit, 2025 Green Bay)
2024 NBA All-Star in Indianapolis
Reese’s Senior Bowl in January 2025
This isn’t just outreach, it’s culture change. Sports fans are now stepping up off the bench to save lives in real-world emergencies.
From the Gridiron to the Pitch: A Continuation of Momentum
The NFL’s Smart Heart Sports Coalition, co-founded with the AHA and several major sports leagues, advocates for policies protecting student‑athletes, including CPR and AED readiness in schools.
In a 2023 interview with Good Morning America, Hamlin expressed gratitude for the life-saving CPR he received, stating, “I owe Denny my life, literally”, referring to the Bills' trainer who administered CPR on him. Additionally, he launched the “3 For Heart CPR Challenge” in partnership with the American Heart Association, encouraging people to learn CPR and raise awareness about its life-saving potential.
This emotional call to action has translated into real progress. The Nation of Lifesavers is backed not just by sports leagues but by athletes and fans alike.
Real Impact: A Ripple Through the Community
Imagine this: a fan trained at an MLB game later saves someone in their neighborhood. That’s not just a feel-good story, it’s a real possibility. These moments are why the Nation of Lifesavers exists. Every trained fan is a thread in a safety net woven across the country.
Building the Nation of Lifesavers, Here’s How You Can Join In
The All-Star Game is only one chapter. The Nation of Lifesavers offers a range of opportunities:
Online training: Learn Hands‑Only CPR in under two minutes at heart.org/nation.
On-site events: Look for pop-up training at the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star, NFL Draft, and now more MLB games.
Community outreach: Schools, workplaces, and recreation centers nationwide are adopting free CPR and AED training.
It's a grassroots network with a shared goal: double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
Why It Matters—The Numbers Speak Loudly
350,000+ Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually.
Only about 10% survive, largely due to lack of bystander intervention.
Hands‑Only CPR can nearly double survival odds, yet fewer than 40% receive it from a bystander.
“Every trained person becomes a potential hero,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “This initiative isn’t about fear, it’s about empowerment.”
The Call to Action: Step Up, Speak Up, Save Lives
Attend an event
Share the message
Advocate in your community
Every bystander can become a lifesaver. When the whistle blows and someone collapses, you might be the hero, not just of the game, but of someone’s life.
Final Inning: Let’s Win at Heart Health
The AHA’s collaboration with the NFL and MLB isn’t just good PR; it’s a powerful strategy: use athletic passion to fuel lifesaving skills. Sports bring fans together; now, health brings us together with purpose. Turning baseball cheers into CPR competence, that's a grand slam for public health.
Join the Nation of Lifesavers. Learn Hands-Only CPR. And be ready when every second counts.
ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts—Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center—and most of our classes include an online training component. We offer high-quality courses taught by instructors who are practicing medical professionals, including ACLS, BLS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS, ACLS-EP, ASLS, Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses. Browse our course catalog.