Buffalo Bills' Hamlin rallies fans to close the CPR readiness gap

American Heart Association press release & photo

More than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive immediate CPR, underscoring the urgent need for more people to know how to respond when every second matters. To help close that gap, the American Heart Association and the National Football League announced the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador Class, bringing together current NFL players who will encourage fans to learn hands-only CPR and be ready to act in a cardiac emergency. Representing the Buffalo Bills is safety Damar Hamlin.

“CPR gave me a second chance at life, and that is something I will never take for granted,” said Hamlin, returning ambassador and original class member. “I’m here today with a purpose bigger than myself thanks to the people around me who knew what to do and were prepared to act. I’m proud to continue serving as an ambassador alongside the American Heart Association, the Buffalo Bills and the NFL, using my story to inspire more people to learn CPR because it has the power to save lives.” 

The ambassadors will encourage fans to learn hands-only CPR through public service announcements, social media and community education initiatives designed to help more people learn hands-only CPR.

“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. NFL players have a powerful opportunity to help fans move from awareness to action by learning CPR and being prepared to use it,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Together with the NFL, we are building a nation of lifesavers.”

This is the third annual ambassador class, which began following the sudden cardiac arrest Hamlin experienced during “Monday Night Football” in early January 2023.

“The NFL's partnership with the American Heart Association will ensure that all members of the NFL family can serve as lifesavers during medical emergencies,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “We look forward to working with our Nation of Lifesaver Player Ambassadors to expand access to vital CPR training and education in communities across the country.”

The association is the global leader in CPR – publishing the official guidelines for CPR and, for more than 60 years, creating resuscitation science, education and training. The Nation of Lifesavers and the collaboration with the NFL is the association’s most recent demonstration of its commitment to CPR education and in support of its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.

The American Heart Association is also a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023. The coalition is actively advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac outside of a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.

With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately 2 inches. Hands-only CPR is chest compression-only CPR.

Learn CPR today – visit www.heart.org/nation.

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 100 years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, it funds groundbreaking research, advocates for the public’s health, and provides critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. Connect on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.