On January 2, 2023, millions watched in shock as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed in cardiac arrest during a widely televised NFL playoff game. During a tackle, a blow to his chest caused his heart to stop, and he stopped breathing. For many, this was their first exposure to what sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) looks like, and in the days and weeks that followed, the nation learned just how critical immediate hands-only CPR and a shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) are to an SCA victim’s survival.

Fortunately, with dozens of trained responders on the field and an established cardiac emergency response plan in place, Hamlin’s life was saved. However, every young athlete deserves the same chance for survival, and the disparity in preparedness across the nation is staggering.

Just months later after an outpouring of demand for better SCA prevention protocol, the NFL along with major sports organizations and leading 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 prevent fatal outcomes from SCA among high school students.

Best practices include:

1. Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) that include cardiac emergency response preparedness 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 training for coaches.