American Heart Association and NFL launch CPR awareness campaign

The American Heart Association and the National Football League have announced the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador Class. This initiative aims to encourage the public to learn Hands-Only CPR to improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital settings.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is serving as an ambassador for the program, citing his own experience with cardiac arrest as motivation. The campaign will utilize public service announcements, social media, and community education to move fans from awareness to action. This marks the third annual ambassador class established following Hamlin’s medical emergency in early 2023.