The Las Vegas Raiders have taken a proactive step in community health by collaborating with the American Heart Association to provide comprehensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to 12 local schools, potentially saving lives through rapid emergency response education.
According to American Heart Association data, nearly 90% of cardiac arrests occurring outside hospitals result in death, primarily because immediate CPR is not administered. The training initiative aims to address this critical gap by empowering students, faculty, and staff with life-saving skills.
The program involves distributing CPR in Schools kits to participating institutions, including Kenneth Divich Elementary School, Southern Highlands Preparatory School, and others. Each kit contains 10 Hands-Only CPR manikins, 10 AED training tools, and comprehensive curriculum materials designed to train multiple stakeholders in cardiac emergency response.
Compression-only CPR, or Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective in the initial emergency minutes and is designed to be easily learned by individuals without extensive medical training. The technique involves calling 911 and performing rapid, centered chest compressions when a person suddenly collapses.
This initiative aligns with the NFL's broader Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for evidence-based policies to prevent cardiac-related fatalities among young people. The American Heart Association reports that approximately 23,000 individuals under 18 experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, with nearly 40% occurring during sports activities.
Kari Uyehara, Executive Director of the Raiders Foundation, emphasized the organization's commitment to building healthier communities through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions. By equipping schools with these critical resources, the program seeks to create a network of prepared individuals who can potentially save lives during cardiac emergencies.
The training represents a significant step in public health education, transforming schools into environments where life-saving knowledge is as fundamental as academic learning. Through this collaborative effort, the Las Vegas Raiders and the American Heart Association are not just providing tools and training, but are actively working to create a more resilient and responsive community prepared to act in critical moments.
