Public interest in learning lifesaving CPR techniques has spiked after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The American Heart Association said it has seen a 620% increase in page views for its Hands-Only CPR webpages, which has videos and resources on how to administer hands-only CPR, since the news broke of Hamlin’s condition on Monday.
COMMOTIO CORDIS: THE CONDITION THAT COULD EXPLAIN DAMAR HAMLIN’S SHOCK COLLAPSE
“An estimated 350,000 people experience an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest each year, and only about 1 in 10 survive. Having community members trained in CPR and AEDs accessible in public spaces can increase chances of survival and improve outcomes,” American Heart Association Greater Washington Region Board President Kelly Epps-Anderson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “It only takes two simple steps to save a life. Bystanders should immediately call 911 and start Hands-Only CPR by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.”
The shocking incident has brought renewed attention to the warning signs of cardiac arrest and CPR techniques. Doctors and advocacy groups have posted videos across social media platforms detailing how to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency, hoping to raise awareness.
The American Heart Association said that having more people trained in CPR and automated external defibrillators or AEDs can increase survival rates. Roughly 70% of cardiac arrests that happen outside the hospital occur in private residences, increasing the likelihood of a family member or friend being the person who needs to take action.
A little over half of people in the U.S. have reported they know how to do CPR, but only 1 in 6 know that the recommended technique for bystander CPR for an adult does not consist of breaths but only chest compressions, according to a 2018 survey from Cleveland Clinic.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Signs that someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest include sudden loss of responsiveness and no normal breathing. If a person is not breathing, CPR can keep the heart pumping and blood flowing to his or her organs until an electrical shock from a defibrillator is available to restore, per the American Heart Association.
In the minutes following Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, medical personnel administered CPR and used an AED to restore his heartbeat before he was transported to a hospital. Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott credited assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington for providing lifesaving care on Thursday. As of Friday, Hamlin is awake and responsive.
