The Oklahoma State University men's basketball team has participated in an American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR training session as part of the Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, which aims to double survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by 2030. According to American Heart Association data, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, partly because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. However, CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person's chance of survival.
The team's involvement extended beyond learning the skill, as they raised funds to support the American Heart Association's lifesaving mission through the Eddie Sutton Foundation during their game against Southern Methodist University on October 26. They also donated two American Heart Association CPR in Schools kits, underwritten by Devon Energy, to Stillwater High School and Pawnee High School. These kits include training manikins and AED training resources, ensuring continued community education on proper CPR techniques and AED use.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized the critical nature of this training, stating that early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency is the difference between life and death. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is crucial. More than 350,000 people in the US have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year, underscoring the potential life-saving impact of widespread CPR knowledge.
This training is particularly relevant in Oklahoma, where the American Heart Association, as part of the Smart Hearts Sports Coalition, recently advocated for a statewide policy requiring cardiac emergency response plans in all public schools and school athletic facilities. The bill, signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on July 10, 2024, will better prepare 1,805 public school sites, supporting nearly 700,000 students, over 42,000 teachers, and additional staff and visitors in responding to cardiac emergencies.
The American Heart Association's efforts extend nationally as well, as a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023. The Association is advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. This is particularly crucial given that as many as 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes.
OSU men's basketball coach Steve Lutz expressed pride in his team's participation, noting that learning Hands-Only CPR is a skill that extends beyond the court and into everyday lives. The team's participation serves as a powerful example of how sports teams can contribute to public health initiatives by learning and promoting these life-saving skills, preparing themselves for potential emergencies while raising awareness about the importance of CPR knowledge in the wider community. Individuals interested in learning Hands-Only CPR and joining the Nation of Lifesavers can visit heart.org/nation for a 90-second tutorial.
