The American Heart Association, Kansas City Chiefs, and National Football League (NFL) have joined forces to launch two significant health initiatives for the 2024 NFL season. The programs, NFL PLAY 60 and Nation of Lifesavers, aim to enhance youth physical activity and expand CPR education across the country.
At Three Trails Elementary School in Independence, Missouri, nearly 150 third and fourth-grade students participated in a preview of the NFL PLAY 60 Kickoff Broadcast. This 15-minute program, scheduled to air in classrooms nationwide on September 19, 2024, demonstrates various levels of physical activity with exercises from NFL teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers.
NFL PLAY 60, now in its 18th season, addresses the critical need for children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, as recommended by the American Heart Association. The program’s importance is underscored by its potential to improve both the mental and physical health of students by reducing sedentary behavior.
Complementing NFL PLAY 60, the Nation of Lifesavers program focuses on doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030 through widespread CPR education. This initiative is particularly crucial given that nearly 75% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in homes, and immediate bystander CPR can significantly increase survival chances.
As part of the Nation of Lifesavers initiative, the Kansas City Chiefs have donated 11 CPR in Youth Sports Kits to area schools. The American Heart Association provided Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to school representatives, enabling them to educate faculty, staff, and coaches.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the significance of these programs: ‘Engaging children in 60 minutes of play with our longstanding NFL PLAY 60 programming and making sure everyone, everywhere knows how to respond with CPR in a cardiac emergency are two examples of the ways we are working with the NFL to advance health and hope for everyone.’
The collaboration between the NFL and the American Heart Association extends beyond these programs. In the 2023-2024 school year, they offered incentives for students completing CPR learning modules, including chances to win Super Bowl LIX tickets or a $10,000 school physical equipment makeover.
Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: ‘We’re thrilled to kick off our 18th season of PLAY 60 by offering fun and engaging opportunities for youth to get moving in the Kansas City community.’
These programs come at a critical time, with over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States. The American Heart Association, as the global leader in resuscitation science, emphasizes the importance of immediate action in cardiac emergencies, recommending chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches for teen and adult victims.
The launch of these initiatives coincides with the start of the 2024 NFL season, which begins on September 5 with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens. This timing maximizes visibility and engagement for both programs, leveraging the excitement surrounding the new football season to promote critical health messages.
As these programs roll out across the nation, they have the potential to make a significant impact on youth health and cardiac emergency preparedness. By combining the NFL’s wide reach with the American Heart Association’s medical expertise, this partnership aims to create a healthier, more prepared generation of young Americans.
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