The Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football & Cheerleading Association (MCPWFCA) in North Texas has implemented a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) across six league sites in Tarrant County. The American Heart Association supported the effort through its Nation of Lifesavers movement by providing a CPR Anytime® Kit and six AED subgrants, with backing from TTI, Inc. The combination of equipment, training and practiced response procedures aims to strengthen on-field readiness for cardiac emergencies affecting coaches, athletes and families.
Sudden cardiac arrest is identified as the leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide, with nearly 75% of cases among young athletes occurring in basketball, football and soccer. Survival after cardiac arrest outside a hospital is low, with roughly 9 out of 10 people not surviving such events. The American Heart Association notes that immediate action, including bystanders initiating CPR and use of an AED, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. These statistics frame why youth sports organizations are a priority setting for preparedness efforts.
To equip MCPWFCA, the American Heart Association provided a CPR Anytime® Kit and awarded six AED subgrants to place automated external defibrillators at each league site. This resource package was delivered with support from TTI, Inc. League members, coaches, athletes and families joined Association and TTI representatives during the first Saturday of the 2026 fall season in Euless to acknowledge the added resources and observe how they will be used in practice.
John Archer, chair of the 2026 Tarrant County Heart Walk and Chief Administrative Officer at TTI, Inc., emphasized starting preparedness where communities spend time: “To build a Nation of Lifesavers we start in the places where communities spend their time, including the fields where kids play and families gather every weekend. Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football & Cheerleading Association is showing what it looks like when a community makes preparedness a priority. It’s having a plan, practicing that plan and giving people the confidence to act when every second counts.”
Working with the American Heart Association, MCPWFCA has taken several concrete steps to operationalize the CERP across its six sites:
Implemented a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan across all league sites.
Developed customized AED maps and identified strategic AED locations to improve access during emergencies.
Incorporated CPR and AED drills into both fall and spring season kickoffs, making practice and readiness part of routine preparation.
Built CPR and AED education into seasonal training for coaches and athletes so that responders are trained before events begin.
Established procedures for AED maintenance, training, and response during a cardiac emergency to ensure equipment readiness and coordinated action when needed.
Kelvin Brown, board chair of MCPWFCA, reflected on the responsibility of serving thousands of athletes and families as the league begins its 69th season: “You never expect a cardiac emergency to happen on your field, but being prepared is part of the responsibility that comes with serving thousands of athletes and families. As we start our 69th season, we're grateful to the American Heart Association for helping us put a plan in place and connect with supporters to help expand AED access. We hope other youth sports leagues see that taking these steps can help create safer places for children to play and families to gather.”
The launch of the CERP and distribution of equipment were highlighted during a public recognition event at an early-season game day in Euless. The initiative ties into larger regional outreach: John Archer is leading the Tarrant County Heart Walk on Sept. 26, where attendees will learn Hands-Only CPR and support the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission. The Dallas Heart Walk on Oct. 17 will extend the Nation of Lifesavers movement across North Texas, reinforcing training and preparedness messages beyond the MCPWFCA community.
MCPWFCA’s approach is presented as a local model of the Nation of Lifesavers concept: communities where people know how to respond, lifesaving equipment is readily available, and response plans are practiced before an emergency. The American Heart Association invites youth sports organizations, schools, businesses and community groups interested in strengthening cardiac emergency preparedness to learn more at cpr.heart.org or to contact the North Texas AHA team at northtexas@heart.org. These resources provide guidance for organizations seeking to adopt similar AED placement, maintenance and training practices.
The American Heart Association describes itself as a relentless force for longer, healthier lives, dedicated to equitable health in all communities. The organization has provided health information for more than a century, supports research, advocates for public health, and provides resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The Association is working to double survival from cardiac arrest by 2030 through initiatives that combine training, equipment access and community planning.
For media inquiries, the source listed Lindsey Lyons Jones with an email of Lindsey.LyonsJones@Heart.org and a phone number of 214-441-4114. Public inquiries are directed to 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and online resources at heart.org and stroke.org. Local organizations can also reach the North Texas team at northtexas@heart.org for guidance on implementing a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan or accessing CPR and AED education resources.