Major League Baseball and the American Heart Association partnered to offer Hands-Only CPR education to fans during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, according to a July 17 announcement. The initiative aimed to address low survival rates from cardiac arrest outside hospitals, which often occur because CPR is not administered immediately.
Fans attending the Capital One All-Star Village during All-Star Week received walk-up instruction from certified trainers. More than 2,500 attendees learned how to perform chest compressions at the proper depth and pace. The event focused on equipping individuals with the knowledge and confidence needed for emergency response when every second counts.
The collaboration is part of the Nation of Lifesavers movement, which seeks to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. Research cited by organizers indicates that Hands-Only CPR can be as effective as conventional methods in critical early moments after collapse. According to the American Heart Association, about nine out of ten people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, often due to delays in starting CPR.
Jon Coyles, senior vice president of drug, health & safety programs at Major League Baseball, said, "We are thankful that the American Heart Association was once again a part of the MLB All-Star Game and are encouraged by the number of fans who were instructed on Hands-Only CPR at All-Star Village. As a proud member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition and supporter of the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, MLB was honored to provide a platform at our jewel event for the Association to turn more fans into lifesavers by offering education and training on lifesaving skills."
The appearance at this year’s game builds upon previous efforts by both organizations at major sporting events nationwide through initiatives like Hands-Only CPR demonstrations and AED awareness campaigns. Both groups are founding members of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established in 2023 with goals including passing policies designed to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students.
