PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The story of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac emergency has played out on the national stage.
Every now and then, when a national figure has to deal with a health issue in the public spotlight, there is an opportunity for the country to learn about a particular medical condition.
From a public health perspective, Hamlin's case was a chance to emphasize the importance of CPR education and the need for widespread availability of AEDs.
Millions of people around the country watched in the first quarter of the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2 as Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field. Medics resuscitated him before he was taken away in an ambulance.
In following his story since that moment, it is clear that the rapid response was critical to his survival. Hamlin is a world-class athlete, but not invulnerable, and his story has sent a clear message that time is of the essence in a cardiac emergency.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.