American Heart Association Uses HBCU Football Game to Address Leading Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
TL;DR
The American Heart Association's HCM awareness campaign provides life-saving knowledge that could give athletes and communities a critical advantage in preventing sudden cardiac death.
The American Heart Association educated fans about HCM detection and Hands-Only CPR techniques through interactive zones and QR code resources at a college football game.
This initiative builds stronger communities by empowering people with heart health knowledge and CPR skills to save lives and improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
Legendary players DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick's college teams competed while fans learned about heart conditions affecting 1 in 500 young people and life-saving CPR.
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The American Heart Association brought critical heart health education to football fans during the recent Battle of the Legends game between former NFL stars DeSean Jackson's Delaware State Hornets and Michael Vick's Norfolk State Spartans at Lincoln Financial Field. The organization used the high-profile HBCU sporting event as an opportunity to address hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes according to the Association.
During the pregame activities, the Association hosted an interactive "Heart Health Zone" focused on HCM awareness and Hands-Only CPR education. HCM involves thickening and stiffening of the heart walls, limiting the heart's ability to pump blood properly. The condition affects approximately 1 in every 500 young people in the United States yet often remains undiagnosed, making education particularly crucial for athletic communities.
Jennifer Litchman-Green, executive director of the American Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of reaching people where they gather. "Moments like this remind us that heart health belongs everywhere - in our homes, our schools and even at the 50-yard line," she stated. "Conditions like HCM are so prevalent, yet so many people don't know how widespread the condition is or how to jump into action if a sudden cardiac arrest episode happens."
The event provided walk-up CPR education opportunities where participants learned the correct rate and depth of CPR compressions. This initiative supports the Association's broader Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030 by building community confidence and capability during cardiac emergencies.
Fans received business cards with QR codes linking to additional resources about HCM, Hands-Only CPR, and information about starting Heart Clubs at schools. The Association directed attendees to Heart.org/HCMStudentAthlete for continued learning and resource sharing within their networks.
This activation reflects the Association's ongoing commitment to ensuring historically underrepresented communities have access to health knowledge and resources. The organization has maintained focused work with HBCUs, student-athletes, and community leaders to expand health literacy and improve outcomes for heart disease and stroke across diverse populations. The American Heart Association's HCM awareness and education efforts in athletes receive partial funding through a grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.
Curated from NewMediaWire
