Updates

As October marks Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, the NFL announced the Smart Heart Sports Coalition has expanded to 37 member organizations.

Founded in March 2023 in response to the life-saving emergency response and care provided to

Damar Hamlin, the coalition seeks to drive the adoption in all 50 states of evidence-based policies that will prevent fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among high school students and in school communities.

New members represent parties along the chain of survival essential to recognizing and treating sudden cardiac arrest. Organizations joining the coalition include: Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC); American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); John Taylor Babbitt Foundation; Citizen CPR Foundation (CCPRF); National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT); National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS); Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES); Sports Safety International (SSI); Starting Hearts; Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation (Weil Institute) at the University of Michigan; and Who We Play For.

“We're thrilled these organizations have joined our coalition with the shared goal and commitment of advancing life-saving policies for students in every state," said Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy. “These groups will add to the coalition's impact as we continue to engage in a vigorous, coordinated, and sustained advocacy effort to make school communities safer and more resilient."

Since the coalition's outreach and advocacy efforts began, California signed a bill into law that provides the state and its student-athletes robust versions of all three policies promoted by the coalition, and several other states have moved to enact one or more of the evidence-based policies proven to prevent death from SCA, including Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

In addition to the expansion of the coalition, Damar Hamlin's mother, Nina, will serve as the honorary chairwoman of the coalition's Ambassadors Advisory Council. This new group comprises current and former professional athletes from all sports, as well as other notable figures who will serve as advocates and spokespeople for the coalition's state-level advocacy. Council members will engage in a range of activities and activations to raise awareness of the crucial policies to prevent SCA-related deaths among students.

“I'm pleased and humbled to accept the invitation to serve in this new role," said Nina Hamlin. “This work is another way for me to support Damar's role as an advocate and his ongoing work off the field to make sure kids across the country have the same access to life-saving care that he did, if and when they need it."

The NFL Foundation is also providing financial support to the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers campaign. This multi-year initiative is focused on school communities, teaching and training students, educators, and families how to be ready and respond to a cardiac emergency with the life-saving skill of hands-only CPR. With this additional grant funding, the NFL Foundation has now provided more than $1 million to ensure schools and communities nationwide are better prepared and equipped to save the lives of those who experience SCA.

“This is another important step in our long-standing partnership with the American Heart Association, which also is a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition," said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “We look forward to continuing to work with the AHA to make our school communities safer places by teaching students and educators hands-only CPR. Together, we can help build a nation of lifesavers, one student, one school at a time."