American Heart Association to host webinar on youth sports cardiac emergency response

The American Heart Association is hosting a free one-hour webinar on September 30 to provide youth sports coaches and league leaders with tools to manage cardiac emergencies. The initiative aims to address sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death for student-athletes in the United States. Approximately 75% of these cases occur among basketball, football, and soccer players.

Through a partnership with the NFL Foundation, the webinar focuses on Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and safe play practices. The session is part of the ‘Nation of Lifesavers’ movement, which seeks to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. Participants will learn about emergency action protocols, AED access, and specific actions to take before, during, and after a cardiac event.