When sudden cardiac arrest strikes a young athlete, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death, yet many coaches are not prepared to respond. As National CPR Week (June 1–7) begins, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and the Houston Texans trained nearly 100 youth sports coaches in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use on May 30 at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
Youth sports coaches from the Texans Showcase League and Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association participated in the training, gaining hands-on experience to recognize cardiac arrest and respond quickly. Without immediate CPR, more than 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive, according to the Heart Association.
The 2026 American Heart Association Statistical Update reports that more than half of youth under age 18 participate in sports, and nearly 40% of sudden cardiac arrests in this age group are related to sports activities, making it a leading cause of death for student-athletes. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person's chance of survival.
The training is part of the Texans' commitment to improve bystander CPR and support the American Heart Association's work to double the survival rates of cardiac arrest by 2030, the goal of Nation of Lifesavers™ movement. Each participating coach received a CPR Anytime Kit to share the training with other coaches, parents and volunteers, helping extend these skills across youth sports programs. The Houston Texans also donated three AEDs to the F.U.N. Football League, this year's Texans Showcase League, to support emergency response readiness.
"When seconds matter it is important to have people nearby who are confident and capable of beginning CPR. Through our collaboration with the Houston Texans, we're empowering coaches with the skills to act in a cardiac emergency," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "Through this effort, youth sports coaches are gaining the confidence and skills to act quickly and help protect the athletes in their care."
The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. With more people ready to perform CPR, chances of a positive recovery increase.
Hands-Only CPR, also known as compression-only CPR, is effective for teens and adults in the first few minutes of an emergency and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.
In 2023, the NFL launched The Smart Heart Sports Coalition in collaboration with founding members including the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, the American Heart Association and others. The coalition aims to advocate for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to help prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. Implementing these simple, cost-effective strategies across all 50 states can save lives.
