News | Sudden Cardiac Arrest | January 04, 2023

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Urges Public Awareness and Action After Collapse of Damar Hamlin

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed in cardiac arrest during an NFL game with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Fortunately, the medical team was prepared and provided immediate CPR and defibrillation to restore his pulse.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed in cardiac arrest during an NFL game with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Fortunately, the medical team was prepared and provided immediate CPR and defibrillation to restore his pulse.

Getty Images


January 4, 2023 — Millions watched as Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed in cardiac arrest during an NFL game with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. It was shocking for players, fans in the stadium, and the Monday Night Football TV audience to watch as he fell backwards to the ground following a tackle. Players surrounded Damar to provide privacy and pray as the medical staff administered CPR and treatment with an automated external defibrillator, or AED. According to the Bills, his pulse was restored on the field before he was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.

One possible cause of Damar’s cardiac arrest was commotio cordis, a condition that results from being struck in the chest at a particular time during the heart rhythm cycle.

“What viewers witnessed last night was sudden cardiac arrest—not to be confused with a heart attack. When cardiac arrest occurs, the heart stops beating and the victim needs immediate help from people nearby,” said Mary M. Newman, MS, president of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. “The odds of survival increase dramatically if bystanders provide CPR and use an AED.”

AEDs are designed for use by laypersons—even those who have not undergone training. The devices themselves provide simple real-time instructions.

There are many causes of cardiac arrest. In addition to commotio cordis, other causes include scarring of the heart tissue, thickened heart muscle, electrical abnormalities, and blood vessel abnormalities. Regardless of the cause, said Newman, “SCA leads to death in minutes if the victim does not get help right away. Survival depends on people nearby calling 911, starting CPR, and using an AED as quickly as possible.”

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation urges the public to learn CPR and how to use an AED, to encourage CPR-AED education in schools, and to promote widespread deployment of AEDs in their communities.

For more information: https://www.sca-aware.org/

Related Sudden Cardiac Arrest Content: 

AHA Issues Explanation on Understanding Cardiac Arrest Following Damar Hamilin's Collapse During Monday Night Football

Morristown Medical Center’s Matthew Martinez, MD Held First Sports Cardiology Summit for Elite and Professional Athletes

Rising Star Footballers Among Young Athletes to Benefit From New Screening Tool

VIDEO: Should Student Athletes be Screened for Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement Evaluates Role of ECG in Athletic Cardiovascular Screening 

Cardiac Ultrasound Studies Evaluate Impact of Exercise on Athletes' Hearts 

Tackling Cardiovascular Health Risks in College Football Players 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Patient Walks to Ambulance Thanks to Wearable Defibrillator


Related Content

News | Heart Failure

November 16, 2023 — Mount Sinai’s Cardiovascular Research Institute is sending bioengineered human heart muscle cells ...

Home November 16, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

November 16, 2023 — A smartphone app using artificial intelligence technology to detect changes in the voice of a person ...

Home November 16, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

November 14, 2023 — Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone Institutes and a renowned cardiovascular researcher ...

Home November 14, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

November 13, 2023 — Ultromics, a leading health technology company at the forefront of detection of heart failure and ...

Home November 13, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

November 3, 2023 — The national Board of Directors of the American Heart Association last week voted to provide full ...

Home November 03, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

October 20, 2023 — An international team of scientists has identified nearly a dozen genes that contribute to calcium ...

Home October 20, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

October 18, 2023 — Sequana Medical NV, a pioneer in the treatment of fluid overload in liver disease, heart failure and ...

Home October 18, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

October 9, 2023 — The vast majority of people who have a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure do not ...

Home October 09, 2023
Home
News | Heart Failure

October 5, 2023 — A newly-issued "Scientific Statement on Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support" in the October issue ...

Home October 04, 2023
Home
Subscribe Now