Pitt helped break a CPR training world record

The University of Pittsburgh has been pioneering resuscitation since the 1950s, when Professor Peter Safar co-developed the foundations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Last week, Pitt pushed its CPR legacy another step further — and broke a world record in the process.

On April 25, during the NFL Draft, the University partnered with American Heart Association, Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation and Doctor Mike to train more than 1,200 people in hands-only CPR. Guinness World Records was in attendance to document the successful event, which taught 1,293 people the lifesaving skill in just under an hour.

[See a video of the training on Instagram.]

“Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “This record-setting moment with our incredible collaborators is about more than a number—it represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life.”

Hamlin (A&S ’20), a former Panthers football player whose own life was saved by CPR in 2023 when he collapsed on the field during an NFL game, also announced at the event that his foundation had donated more than $1 million automated external defibrillators (AEDs) worldwide.

“As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives,” said Hamlin, who plays for the Buffalo Bills. “To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful, and I’m proud to see the NFL, the American Heart Association and our community come together to build a lifesaving legacy.”

Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests happen at home, making it important for more people to know how to respond. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately take action calling 9-1-1 emergency services and beginning chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR for adults. Infants and children require traditional CPR with breaths. Find CPR and AED training resources.