NFL’s Baltimore Ravens add lifesavers to the chain of survival

BALTIMORE, June 18, 2024 —More than 40 Baltimore area youth sports league coaches and administrators are now prepared to save a life should they ever face a cardiac emergency. The American Heart Association and the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens brought cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, MD on Monday, June 17. Participants learned lifesaving skills, while simultaneously building their confidence and capabilities to respond immediately in the event of a cardiac emergency.  According to American Heart Association data, nine out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in large part because they often do not receive immediate CPR. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

“Early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency is the difference between life and death. When seconds matter it is important to have people nearby who are confident and capable to begin administering CPR. This coach training event with the Baltimore Ravens is helping to support that critical link in the community” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “As we celebrate 100 years of lifesaving work, we know that with every CPR training we perform we are one step closer to ensuring that everyone, everywhere is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.”

The American Heart Association, celebrating one hundred years of lifesaving service in 2024, is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important because the life you save may be someone you love. With more lifesavers armed confidently with the knowledge of CPR, American Heart Association believes the number of deaths from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can be cut in half by the year 2030.

Hands-Only CPR participants learned the correct rate and depth of compressions and how to use an AED. Compression-only CPR, known as Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

“The Ravens are committed to supporting our youth athletes in various ways, most importantly, with regards to their health and safety. For years, we’ve provided AED devices to local organizations, but we believe it’s equally as important to offer proper training of those devices. AED and Hands-Only CPR trainings provide lifesaving skills that can assist youth coaches and administrators in the event of a cardiac emergency,” said Heather Darney, vice president of community relations, Baltimore Ravens and executive director, Ravens Foundation, Inc.

In 2023, the NFL launched The Smart Heart Sports Coalition in collaboration with the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA and others including the American Heart Association. The goal of the national initiative is to prevent death from SCA among high school athletes by advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will prevent fatal outcomes among high school students.

During the 2024 legislative session in Maryland, state lawmakers passed the Bailey Bullock Act, requiring all public and non-public schools in the state to adopt Cardiac Emergency Response Plans. The Act is named for a 16-year-old student-athlete who died in May 2021 from a sudden cardiac arrest suffered outside his school building after track practice. CPR was delayed for at least 8 minutes.

Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith testified in favor of the legislation during the session. The Bailey Bullock Act will go into effect with the start of the new school year this fall.

According to the American Heart Association, as many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience SCA annually (out-of-hospital). It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes. Sports-related SCA accounted for nearly 40% of SCAs among people under the age of 18. If implemented across all 50 states, these simple, cost-effective strategies can prevent deaths from SCA. The Baltimore Ravens CPR education event supports this work in greater Maryland.  

Additional Resources:

• Spanish news release (To be added when available)
• Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF) 
• Hands-Only CPR Resources
• Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths 
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
• Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
• Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. 

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About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 – our Centennial year – we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.