This summer, alongside unforgettable memories of cheering on their national teams, a remarkable number of soccer fans in Germany took home a unique and invaluable skill: CPR certification. As part of the Get Trained, Save Livescampaign, approximately 38,000 fans were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an initiative aimed at raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and the crucial role that bystanders can play in saving lives.
The campaign was a collaboration between the EURO 2024 Championships and the European Resuscitation Council, with a clear focus on increasing the public’s ability to respond effectively in an emergency. The campaign aimed to ensure that wherever a cardiac event may occur, someone nearby would be equipped to take immediate, life-saving action. Official CPR booths were set up at the tournament, providing an interactive experience for fans from all 24 participating countries.
At these booths, participants practiced CPR on manikins outfitted with sensors designed to measure both the depth and rhythm of their chest compressions. These sensors gave fans real-time feedback, comparing their results to other participants in the form of a computer game, making learning not only educational but also fun and engaging. Football legends such as Clarence Seedorf, Javi Martinez, Ruud Gullit, and Mikel John Obi visited these booths, interacting with fans and participating in the game themselves, further encouraging the public to get involved in this life-saving initiative.
But the impact of the Get Trained, Save Lives campaign went beyond just the fans. The life-saving training was also extended to the teams participating in EURO 2024. At their respective base camps, players received training on how to respond to sudden cardiac events. Match officials, staff, and volunteers working at the tournament were also given this critical education, making sure that wherever a cardiac emergency might happen, there would likely be someone around who knew what to do.
This effort to raise awareness around cardiac arrest and CPR at the EUROS comes with a poignant and dramatic history. During the European Championships of 2020, the entire sporting world was jolted into realizing just how crucial bystander intervention can be in saving a life. It was during a match between Denmark and Finland that Christian Eriksen, Denmark’s attacking midfielder, suddenly collapsed on the field. He had just received the ball when he fell to the ground for no apparent reason.
In a moment of quick thinking, Denmark’s captain Simon Kjaer rushed over to his teammate. Recognizing that Eriksen was in cardiac arrest, Kjaer immediately cleared his airways and began performing chest compressions before medical personnel arrived. His actions alerted the tens of thousands of fans in the stadium and the millions watching from home to the life-threatening situation unfolding on the field. Despite the Danish players forming a protective human barrier around Eriksen, television cameras still managed to capture the shocking scene of his body twitching from the compressions.
The incident with Eriksen, which lasted several harrowing minutes before he was finally transported off the pitch in a medical vehicle, had a profound impact on the world of sports. Fortunately, Eriksen made a full recovery, but the message was clear: cardiac events can happen anywhere, even in the midst of a professional football match, and knowing how to respond can be the difference between life and death. The world was reminded of how close Eriksen came to losing his life, and soon after, media outlets like Sky Sports began inviting paramedics onto their programs to teach basic CPR techniques to viewers.
The Get Trained, Save Lives campaign is a continuation of the momentum generated by Eriksen’s near-fatal event. As part of the broader initiative, the European Resuscitation Council hopes to create a ripple effect, encouraging more sports events and public gatherings to incorporate CPR training into their programs. With high-profile athletes and large-scale events as platforms, the goal is to equip as many people as possible with the skills necessary to act swiftly in an emergency.
In the end, the success of the campaign is about more than just numbers or statistics; it’s about giving ordinary people the tools to save lives. Whether in the stands or on the field, the presence of someone who knows CPR can mean the difference between tragedy and survival. The European Championships have not only brought thrilling soccer matches to fans across the continent but also a lasting legacy of preparedness and hope, where anyone, at any moment, could be called upon to save a life.
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