Rockwall ISD student Chelsie Wood and her parents Clint and Julie are preparing for the experience of a lifetime at Super Bowl LX. Photo by Rockwall ISD Communication Team.
Hands-Only CPR reaches students through the American Heart Association’s in-school programs supports mission critical work to strengthen the chain of survival
ROCKWALL, TX (Feb. 4, 2026) — Rockwall ISD student Chelsie Wood is preparing for the experience of a lifetime at Super Bowl LX after being selected this fall as one of five national student winners in a collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL Foundation to encourage young people to learn Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Chelsie earned two tickets to Super Bowl LX by completing the Kids Heart Challenge online Hands-Only CPR learning module during the 2024–25 school year.
Chelsie learned Hands-Only CPR through the Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, part of its in-school Heart Challenge programs that deliver free CPR instruction so students feel confident and capable to respond in a cardiac emergency. She was surprised with the news at a school assembly at Pullen Elementary in September where students celebrated with PLAY 60 activities and a CPR dance party.
“At the American Heart Association our future is about improving yours. Through the generous incentives provided by the NFL we are working together to motivate more students to complete the Hands-Only CPR module and share what they learned with their families, expanding awareness of how to respond in a cardiac emergency,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Through our collaboration with the NFL, we reached more schools and empowered more students with the lifesaving skill of CPR.”
More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year[1], 70% of those occurring at home[2]. According to American Heart Association data, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. A scientific statement from the Heart Association shows that children as young as age four can impact the survival rate by calling 911[3].
The American Heart Association is the global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official guidelines for CPR. The collaboration with the NFL is the Association’s most recent demonstration of the vow to grow CPR education with the commitment to double survival rates of cardiac emergencies by 2030. With most cardiac arrests outside the hospital occurring at homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important for all families. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches.
“Our collaboration with the American Heart Association will ensure that young people across the country are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to act in a cardiac emergency,” said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher. “By empowering the next generation with these lifesaving skills, we are not only strengthening the chain of survival today, but also helping to build healthier, safer communities for the future.”
The NFL’s support includes the production of an introduction video by Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety and cardiac arrest survivor. In the video, which appears prior to the Kids Heart Challenge Hands-Only CPR online learning module, Hamlin shares that CPR saved his life and encourages kids to learn the lifesaving skill. Each elementary student who completed the online learning module earned an entry for two tickets to Super Bowl LX in 2026. Additionally, Kids Heart Challenge participating schools received entries to win a $10,000 fitness equipment makeover for student participation.
The NFL Foundation renewed their commitment to support CPR education for the 2025-2026 school year. Once again, five student participants will receive tickets to Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and five schools will receive $10,000 fitness equipment makeovers. Entries are available now to those completing the Hands Only CPR module called Finn’s Mission. Parents and school administrators can visit heart.org/schools to learn how their students can participate.
With a foundation set in physical activity and rooted in proven science, Kids Heart Challenge has expanded beyond the gymnasium to meet the needs of today’s youth and educators as science has proven the strong connection between physical and mental health. The program offers a variety of activities to get elementary students’ hearts pumping such as dance, basketball or jumping rope paired with digital missions such as Hands-Only CPR. The Association has worked with schools across the nation for 48 years promoting physical health and wellness.
The Association encourages everyone, everywhere to join in the Nation of Lifesavers initiative and make CPR awareness and education a permanent fixture in all communities across the country. Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life now at www.heart.org/nation.
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.
Submitted press release by Lindsey Lyons Jones, Director of Communications/North Texas, American Heart Association. Submitted photo by American Heart Association, by Rockwall ISD Communications Team.
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