In celebration of American Heart Month, over 400 Howard University biology students participated in Damar Hamlin’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from a cardiac arrest and was saved by CPR. Hamlin hopes to use his experience to educate people about the importance of CPR and inspire them to learn Hands-Only CPR – a quick, easy-to-learn a lifesaving skill
Hamlin’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge is an exciting, yet simple social media challenge with 3 steps
- 1 – LEARN: Go to heart.org/3 to watch a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR
- 2 – GIVE: Donate to the American Heart Association to fund CPR education and training, and other lifesaving programs and scientific research.
- 3 – SHARE: Use #3forHeart™ to challenge 3 friends to do the same on social media.
The Biology & Health and Human Performance Departments at Howard University accepted Damar’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge and turned it into an assignment where students engaged in Hands-on CPR skills. The assignment was for students to learn Hands-Only CPR, to post about it on their social media accounts and to challenge their friends to do the same.
This assignment resulted in over 400 posts shared via the students’ Instagram accounts.
CPR – or cardiopulmonary resuscitation – is performed when the heart stops beating and, especially if started immediately, can double, or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. People are encouraged to participate in all three steps to learn and promote education of Hands-Only CPR.
Hands-Only CPR is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult collapse; push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
The Howard University students hope to inspire their peers at other HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to participate in Damar Hamlin’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge as a global force for healthier lives for all. As the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and publisher of the official Guidelines for CPR, the American Heart Association’s Greater Washington Region aims to make sure as many people are familiar with CPR as possible.
Learn more about the challenge here. Get involved with the American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region and learn more on its impact in the community at: www.heart.org/dc.
#GoRed #HeartMonth #3ForHeart
Written by: Sydney Ellis, Health Strategies Intern