College students nationwide received lifesaving education on sudden cardiac death

(Press-News.org) DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2026 — Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes, according to the American Heart Association, and too often it goes undetected. To help address this challenge, the Association has expanded its heart health education and Hands-Only CPR training efforts through a multi-year national campaign focused on students and families at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) nationwide. The initiative also amplified education each year around HCM Awareness Day, observed on the final Wednesday of February. The three-year campaign concluded today on the 2026 HCM Awareness Day.

According to the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all, sudden cardiac death disproportionately affects Black athletes and is more frequently linked to competitive sports that involve sudden movements, like football or basketball. There is an estimated 1 in 500 people living with HCM, although a substantial percentage of those cases remain undiagnosed. Displaying the need for intentional heart health education.

Because HCM can trigger sudden cardiac arrest without warning, especially during physical activity, knowing how to respond in the first moments of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. Throughout the campaign, HCM education was intentionally paired with Hands-Only CPR training to reinforce readiness for sudden cardiac emergencies. Hundreds of students, athletes, and community members received hands-on CPR demonstrations, advancing the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement and helping equip young people with skills that can double or triple survival rates when cardiac arrest occurs.

At the core of the campaign was a public service announcement (PSA) strategy, which featured English and Spanish-language radio PSAs and on-campus CPR demonstrations. The messages reinforced the importance of family heart history, early detection, and CPR education, particularly for student-athletes and their families.

To extend reach and credibility, the Association also collaborated with Black and multicultural media platforms. A national content integration curated by Sybil Wilkes’ “Check In & Check Up” with the State of Black Health: Public Health and Media Symposium at the National Press Club in Washington D.C; across the Black America Web platform, reaching more than one million monthly unique visitors. Additional national content releases tied to HCM Awareness Day and CPR Awareness Week (held June 1-7) resulted in thousands of placements and hundreds of millions of impressions.

“When students, coaches and families understand both the risks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and how to respond immediately to sudden cardiac arrest, we create an environment where prevention and preparedness go hand in hand,” said Matthew Martinez, M.D., FAHA, FACC, an American Heart Association volunteer medical expert and a co-author of the 2024 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology  Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

“By pairing evidence-based HCM education with Hands-Only CPR training, this campaign transforms awareness into lifesaving action,” said Martinez, who is an associate professor of medicine, the director of Sports Cardiology and the director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, New Jersey. “Culturally responsive, campus-centered outreach, particularly across HBCU and HSI athletic communities, ensures that young athletes are not only informed about their heart health but also feel confident and prepared to step in and help save a life.”

The campaign also came to life on campuses and at major athletic and leadership convenings across the country. Through interactive HCM education, Hands-Only CPR demonstrations and culturally relevant messaging, the Association engaged student- athletes and families at HBCU homecomings and rivalry games at Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Howard University and Xavier University of Louisiana and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament. Additional education took place at conferences such as the United Negro College Fund Leadership Conference; and  the Hispanic Educational Technology Services Student Experience Summit & Showcase in Puerto Rico, which reached students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and high schools across the island.

The Heart Association strengthened relationships with athletic conferences, university leaders and student organizations while expanding its Heart Club, the Association’s student-led campus organization, to empower students as ongoing heart health ambassadors on their campuses. The HCM campaign demonstrated how sustained, culturally relevant engagement aligned with awareness moments and trusted partners can drive national impact. By centering communities disproportionately affected by sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association continues to advance health equity while helping save lives through education and action.

The American Heart Association’s HCM awareness and education in athletes was made possible in part by a financial grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Additional Resources:  

Spanish News Release (Coming Soon)  What Is HCM? HCM In Young Adults and Student Athletes Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF)    Hands-Only CPR Resources  Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths    Women and CPR  Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack   Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available  Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.  For more information about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and resources for students, athletes and families, visit heart.org/HCMStudentAthlete.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

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