A Franklin, Mass., elementary school student has punched his ticket to one of the biggest sporting events in the world, thanks to a nationwide American Heart Association initiative promoting lifesaving skills.
Samvidh Kandula, a fourth grader at John F. Kennedy Memorial School, was recently surprised with two tickets to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, as part of a collaboration between the American Heart Association and the National Football League Foundation. The initiative, aimed at creating a “Nation of Lifesavers” through Hands-Only CPR training, selected Kandula as one of only five students nationwide to receive the coveted prize.
In a surprise event at his school, New England Patriots players Deatrich Wise Jr. and Brenden Schooler joined American Heart Association staff and school employees to honor Kandula, who was visibly stunned as he learned about his Super Bowl opportunity.
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Kandula was one of thousands of students across the country who took part in the American Heart Association’s in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™. These programs offer free Hands-Only CPR training, empowering students to confidently respond in a cardiac emergency. Every year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals in the U.S., with 70% occurring at home. According to an American Heart Association scientific statement, even children as young as four can help save lives by knowing how to call 911.
To read more about the American Heart Association and the NFL’s efforts to boost awareness and adoption of Hands-Only CPR click here.
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