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Smart Heart Sports Coalition

Smart Heart Sports Coalition

On March 27, 2023, the National Football League, along with other major sports organizations and leading patient and health advocacy groups, announced the formation of The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, to advocate for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will help prevent fatal outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school students.

The coalition is advocating for the implementation of three best practice policies to prevent death from Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

  1. Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for each high school athletic venue that are widely distributed, posted, rehearsed, and updated annually;
  2. Clearly marked automated external defibrillator (AEDs) at each athletic venue or within 1-3 minutes of each venue where high school practices or competitions are held; and,
  3. CPR and AED education for coaches.
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AEDs for Youth

This nationwide program – a collaboration among the coalition, Coro Medical, and Avive Solutions, Inc. – makes new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) available to public and private K-12 schools as well as youth sports organizations across the country at substantial discounts. Click on the "LEARN MORE" button to view a side-by-side comparison chart of AEDs, and to find out about purchasing an "AED school bundle" or an "AED athletic bundle" that fits your specific needs.

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"I'm honored to support the NFL's work to encourage all 50 states to adopt policies to protect youth. This work pushes forward the idea that every high school should have an athletic emergency plan, coaches should be CPR and AED trained and athletic fields should have clearly marked AEDs within a moment's reach. These efforts can help save the lives of student athletes impacted by sudden cardiac arrest."

- Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, founder of The Chasing M's Foundation

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating. It occurs suddenly, and often without warning, when an electrical malfunction in the heart causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With its pumping action disrupted, the heart can't pump blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. When this occurs, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim doesn't receive treatment.

Coalition Members

American College of Cardiology

American College of Sport Medicine

American Heart Association

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine

American Red Cross

Association of Black Cardiologists Inc.

Chasing M's Foundation (Damar Hamlin's organization)

Citizen CPR Foundation

Heart Rhythm Society

John Taylor Babbitt Foundation

Korey Stringer Institute

Major League Baseball

Major League Soccer

Make Them Know Your Name

National Academy of Sports Medicine

National Association of American Medical Technicians

National Athletic Trainers' Association

National Basketball Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Council of Youth Sports

National Federation of State High School Associations

National Football League

National Football League Physicians Society

National Hockey League

National Women's Soccer League

Pediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society

Parent Heart Watch

Project Adam

Simon's Heart

Sport Safety International

Starting Hearts

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

T.J. Carrie Foundation

United States Tennis Association

Weil Institute

Who We Play For

Women's National Basketball Association

Women's Tennis Association
View All Coalition Members

Policy Advocacy in the United States

Below is a map indicating how many policies each state has passed.

Resources

Get CPR and AED education and training

Need help finding training resources? Click the links below to find training and educational guides on CPR and AEDs.

AED Best Practices (Parent Heart Watch)

Find a CPR course near you (American Red Cross or Parent Heart Watch)

AHA - Find CPR Training

Online AED Tutorial Online CPR Tutorial

Promote policy in your state

Want to introduce the three-life saving policies in your state? Click on the link below to preview model legislation.

View Model Legislation

Take the AED in 3 Challenge

Participate in the challenge find out if an AED is located close enough for you to effectively respond to a cardiac emergency at your venue.

Take the AED in 3 Challenge

Support the coalition and its mission

Share the one sheet linked below to spread awareness about the coalition and the three life-saving policies that the members are promoting in all 50 states.

View PDF

Featured Videos

Recent News

The Smart Heart Sports Coalition and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin announce the launch of the new "AEDs for Youth" program.

Good Morning America

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Denzel Ward encouraged by the passing of House Bill 47 to require AEDs in public schools in Ohio

Cleveland Browns

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Advocacy in Sports Cardiology: A Call to Arms∗

ScienceDirect

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State lawmakers introduce legislation requiring AEDs in all Michigan schools

Fox 17 West Michigan

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State lawmakers introduce legislation requiring AEDs in all Michigan schools

WMAR 2 News Baltimore

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Legislation tries to prevent sudden cardiac deaths

Erie News Now

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Former Rams player, Missouri legislators call for cardiac emergency response plans in schools

KOMU 8

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American Heart Association, other advocates call for improved cardiac readiness in Virginia schools

ABC 13 News Now

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American Heart Association, other advocates call for improved cardiac readiness in Virginia schools

ABC 25 Columbia

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Damar Hamlin's foundation donates AEDs to Nevada high schools

WPXI Channel 11 Pittsburgh

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Hamlin's foundation, NFL donating $100K worth of AEDs to Nevada schools

ESPN

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Why every school and workplace needs a cardiac emergency response plan

Kansas City Business Journal

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Schools get free cardiac defibrillators from UH and Cleveland Browns

Cleveland.com

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CPR Saves Lives | Cardiac Arrest Survival Summit holds rally in San Diego

CBS8

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Bengals Save The Dey adds 500 lifesavers to the chain of survival in Cincinnati

American Heart Association

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Buffalo Bills and the American Heart Association take CPR awareness to the turf

American Heart Association

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NFL-led Smart Heart Coalition expands, brings on Damar Hamlin's mother

Buffalo News

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NFL: Schools are unprepared to save young athletes from cardiac arrest. We can change that

Courier Journal

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NFL expands Smart Heart Sports Coalition to include 26 members, continuing to drove CPR and AED Advocacy

NFL Communications

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NFL expanding The Smart Heart Sports Coalition

AP News

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NFL grows cardiac arrest work started after Damar Hamlin collapse

ESPN

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Organizations selected to receive donated AEDs and training from Packers, Bellin Health

Packers.com

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Jets and Atlantic Health System Announce Youth Football CPR and AED Education Sessions

NewYorkJets.com

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Damar Hamlin visits Capitol Hill to support bill promoting access to AEDs

Washington Post

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New coalition aims to make the resources available for schools to implement tailored emergency response plans that include training in CPR and AEDs

Yahoo Finance

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Highlights

Governor Bill DeWine Signs Bill into Law, Ohio Becomes the Latest State with All Three Policies

Governor Bill DeWine Signs Bill into Law, Ohio Becomes the Latest State with All Three Policies

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

"Today's bill signing is a testament to leadership and teamwork, and I thank and applaud Governor DeWine, the leaders of the Ohio legislature, the bill sponsors, and the many Smart Heart Sports Coalition team members who came together to move this life-saving legislation forward. I'll always consider Ohio my second home, and I'm delighted that this new law makes the places around the state where young people learn, play, and compete safer, more resilient, and better prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency. This is a big win for young people throughout Ohio." Damar Hamlin, Chasing M's Foundation Founder, and Buffalo Bills Safety

(L-R: T.J. Carrie (NFL Legends/T.J. Carrie Foundation), OH Speaker of the House Jason Stephens, Nicole Ward (MTKYN Foundation), Dr. Trent Bowers (Worthington Schools Superintendent), Jon Sprunger (Worthington Kilbourne High School soccer coach), Pamela Dickman (Canen's mother), Canen Dickman (SCA survivor), OH Governor Mike DeWine, OH Representative Adam Bird, Paul Sparling (Cincinnati Bengals Head Athletic Trainer Emeritus), OH Senate President Matt Huffman, and OH Representative Richard Brown)

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Governor Bill Lee Signs Bill Into Law, Tennessee Now Has All Three Policies

Governor Bill Lee Signs Bill Into Law, Tennessee Now Has All Three Policies

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

"The NFL is honored to join with our Smart Heart Sports Coalition partners and allies to celebrate the enactment of this crucial safety measure. Thanks to Governor Lee, leaders in the legislature, the Tennessee Titans, and the advocates who pushed this forward, school communities throughout the state will have the tools and training to better respond to cardiac emergencies. This is a victory for students, athletes, staff and visitors at Tennessee's schools." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

(L-R: Chris Hopkins (AHA), Delanie Walker (NFL Legend), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Linton Black (SCA survivor), TN Governor Bill Lee, and TN Sen. Joey Hensley).

Governor Gretchen Witmer Signs Bills Implementing All Three Policies In Michigan

Governor Gretchen Witmer Signs Bills Implementing All Three Policies In Michigan

Saturday, April 27, 2024

"On behalf of the National Football League and the nearly 40 additional members of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, I applaud Governor Whitmer and the Michigan legislature for working together to advance this crucial, life-saving legislation," said Brendon Plack, NFL Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs. "These vital, evidence-based measures ensure that Michigan's school communities are better equipped and prepared to respond to sudden cardiac arrests, if and when they occur. The laws mark a victory for young people and their safety across the state."

(L-R: Damar Hamlin, MI Rep. Tyrone Carter, Dr. Brad Uren (MI College of Emergency Physicians), MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Alex Bowerson (SCA survivor), MI Rep. John Fitzgerald, MI Speaker of the House Joe Tate, and Brendon Plack (NFL))

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