Let’s take a quick timeout from talking weight-loss goals and post-game burrito strategies – this one’s serious. We’re talking about heart health, and more importantly, what to do when someone’s heart stops right in front of you.

Scary? Yeah. But you know what’s scarier? Not knowing what to do when it happens.

Here’s the truth: CPR and AED training isn’t just for medics. It’s something every one of us should know, because it could save a life at your game.

Cardiac Arrest Doesn’t Wait Until After the Match

Sudden cardiac arrest can hit anyone. Doesn’t matter if you’ve dropped 30 pounds or if you’re still grinding through Week 1 of getting back on the field. Fit, unfit, young, old – it can happen to any guy, right in the middle of the game.

When it does, every second counts. Not every minute – every second.

What’s CPR and Why Should You Care?

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) keeps the blood and oxygen moving through the body when the heart stops. You don’t need to be certified to do hands-only CPR. Just two things: the guts to jump in, and a rhythm around 100–120 beats per minute (think Stayin’ Alive – yes, seriously).

No mouth-to-mouth. Just firm, fast chest compressions right in the center of the chest.

Not sure what it looks like? Watch this 60-second demo from the American Heart Association Here: Watch: Hands-Only CPR – AHA Video

AEDs: The MVP in a Medical Emergency

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator, and it’s a total game-changer. If someone’s heart is in the wrong rhythm, an AED can shock it back into action.

They’re dead simple to use, just open it up and follow the voice prompts. Most of our venues have one on-site, so ask your coach or league organizer where it is. You don’t want to be searching when every second matters.

Know the MEAP at Your Club

Every MAN v FAT Soccer session includes a Medical Emergency Action Plan (MEAP) a clear, step-by-step plan to follow if a medical emergency happens. It covers:

  • Who’s the first aider
  • Where the first aid kit can be found
  • Where the AED is
  • Where to direct emergency services

Sound like overkill? It’s not. It’s what makes the difference between chaos and control when things get real. So before kickoff, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the MEAP. It’s always on-site.

Ask your coach to point it out. Knowing where it is is part of being on the team.

Be Ready for the Big Moments

Look, we’re all here to get healthier, lose weight, and play a sport we love. But part of being on this journey together is watching each other’s backs. That includes stepping up in a crisis.

Here’s your MAN v FAT challenge:

  • Watch the AHA CPR video (it’s just 1 minute).
  • Ask where the AED is at your venue.
  • Find and read your club’s MEAP – every location has one.
  • Talk to your team about what to do if something goes down.

Being prepared doesn’t make you paranoid, it makes you dependable. And in this crew, that matters.

Let’s Be More Than Just Players

At MAN v FAT Soccer, we support each other on and off the field. Knowing CPR, knowing how to use an AED, and being familiar with the MEAP? That’s leadership. That’s brotherhood. That’s stepping up when it really counts.

Let’s be ready – not just to win games, but to save lives.