The American Heart Association and the Los Angeles Rams joined forces to bring lifesaving education to 200 youth football participants, coaches, and educators in Dallas, TX. The event, which took place at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School on March 30, focused on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training.
According to American Heart Association data, nine out of every ten people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die 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.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of quick response in cardiac emergencies, stating that the collaboration with the Los Angeles Rams has already resulted in saving a three-year-old boy’s life just 12 days after their first CPR education session.
The Rams welcomed players, coaches, and educators from local youth football programs for AED and CPR training. Hands-Only CPR participants learned the correct techniques and were provided with CPR in Youth Sports Kits for continued education.
The Rams’ director of social justice and football development, Johnathan Franklin, expressed the team’s commitment to promoting CPR education at all levels of football. The partnership with the American Heart Association aims to equip teams with essential AED and CPR resources to better respond to emergencies and save lives.
The American Heart Association, celebrating its 100th year, continues its mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. The organization’s Nation of Lifesavers movement aims to double survival rates of cardiac emergencies by 2030, with the recent launch of The Smart Heart Sports Coalition to prevent sudden cardiac arrest among high school athletes. The Rams’ CPR education events align with this national campaign to save lives and promote heart health in communities.