As I watched, my heart sank, and I explained to my wife and three daughters all the things that were happening and what would happen moving forward.
Twenty years ago, I was in a very similar situation, without the cameras and a national audience. A colleague and I were performing CPR on a well-conditioned patient whose heart just stopped while he was exercising. We followed our plan, and the patient survived cardiac arrest after a significant surgery the next day. He is still alive and active to this day. But on that Monday night in Cincinnati, I was not sure what the outcome was for Damar Hamlin, so as a family we muted the television, bowed our heads and prayed for an athlete we had never heard of before that night.
I mentioned my daughters because each of them is healthy, and active and has participated in sports at the interscholastic level. A basketball player, a volleyball player and a cross-country runner. My wife and I cheered them on in both victory and defeat, but we’ve never seen them collapse and not get up.
As a parent, I know the sinking feeling when a child becomes ill or has an injury. As an athletic trainer at the collegiate and National Football League levels, I have explained to parents and athletes at every level of competition (yes, even in the NFL) what an injury means to their ability to compete in the future.
This was again different.
As a parent or guardian, you might ask if your child should continue to participate in youth sports, high school sports or at the intercollegiate level. My answer to you is a resounding YES, but you must ask these questions of your local youth sports organizers and your athletic directors: Does your child’s organization or school employ a Certified Athletic Trainer? If not, why? It’s not medically appropriate to practice and compete without an athletic trainer onsite. Yes, the financial cost is likely the reason for why 45% of all public high schools (NATA, 2019) in the United States had no access to an athletic trainer. As we witnessed with Damar Hamlin, the cost of employing an athletic trainer is minimal compared to the cost of one human life.
Another question to ask is, has my son or daughter had a complete physical examination before they begin competing? Have they had a thorough exam, which must include the provider listening to their heart and lungs and referring them on to a cardiologist if any abnormalities are noted?
Also, does my organization require coaches to be trained in CPR, and is there an AED onsite at every practice and event?
The news that Damar Hamlin is alert and responsive is only possible because CPR was administered by an athletic trainer and then the patient received early defibrillation on the field. If these two things did not occur, the outcome could have been fatal.
Finally, does my organization have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place to ensure that all the necessary personnel, equipment and functions can be met in case of an emergency? An EAP is only effective if everyone involved is aware of it and has regularly practiced it, which the Bengals and Bills’ medical staff’s obviously had prior to that Monday Night Football game. As a result, Damar Hamlin was given the best chance for survival.
As news of his recovery continues to circulate, my family and I will keep praying for him and I will keep teaching my athletic training students to be prepared for the worst and to keep reassuring athletes and parents that they are in good hands.
Dr. Mike Weller, Ed.D., AT, ATC is an Associate Professor of Athletic Training at Cedarville University.
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