The American Heart Association announced that fans at FIFA World Cup Fan events in Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New York have practiced more than 800,000 Hands-Only CPR chest compressions, one of the largest public CPR education efforts in the organization's history. According to the association, more than 8,000 attendees have participated in hands-on training at the Mobile CPR Unit, learning to recognize cardiac arrest and respond by calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.
This initiative, a collaboration between the American Heart Association and FIFA, brings lifesaving education into high-energy fan environments surrounding the world's largest sporting event. The American Heart Association's presence at FIFA Fan events represents the largest public Hands-Only CPR engagement in the Mobile CPR Unit's history and serves as a visible effort to advance the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which aims to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030.
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals in the United States each year. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival, yet many bystanders hesitate to act due to lack of training. "More than 800,000 CPR training compressions practiced by fans are proof of how quickly people can build the confidence to act when every second counts," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "Still, more than half of people who have a cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive CPR before professional help arrives. By bringing Hands-Only CPR training to FIFA Fan events, we're helping more people feel ready to act - and the life they save is likely to be someone they love."
Andrew Massey, FIFA Medical Director, emphasized the global reach of football in promoting lifesaving initiatives. "Through FIFA Fan Experiences, we can reach thousands of people and extend these critical skills far beyond the pitch," he said.
The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. Hands-Only CPR is effective for teens and adults in the first few minutes after a collapse. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests occurring at home, knowing CPR can help save the life of a loved one. The association will continue its presence at FIFA Fan experiences in the weeks ahead, aiming to reach thousands more people. To learn more about Hands-Only CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers, visit heart.org/nation.
Additional resources include information on Bystander CPR and a Bystander CPR Infographic. The public can also take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
