TOLEDO, Ohio — After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin experienced a cardiac arrest on the field Monday night, a ProMedica cardiologist says heart health and CPR awareness are of the utmost importance to be prepared for dangerous situations.
All athletic organizations should know how to remove sports gear quickly, including chest and shoulder pads, to perform CPR. Dr. Rajendra Kattar said if the gear can't be removed in time, CPR can't be given correctly.
“You do need to be able to get good contact with the chest," he said. "You can do that through a shirt or anything like that, but usually take the shirts off just because we are hoping that if there’s no pulse, that a defibrillator is nearby."
Kattar said after seeing video of the incident and reading news, he believes the hit to Hamlin's chest probably caused a heart rhythm problem, which caused the cardiac arrest.
"I believe Hamlin could have suffered from a rare case called commotio cordis, where there's a deadly disruption of heart rhythm as a result of a blow to the area directly over the heart," he said. "This specific area of the heart would have to be impacted at a very specific time, making this type of injury very rare."
He said the players should be under observation for up to 24 hours before a diagnosis can be given, but Hamlin was fortunate to receive proper CPR quickly.
The football game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals should already be having an impact on medical and athletic organizations in Toledo," Kattar said.
"It was very bothersome when he stood up, collapsed, and, to me, it looked like a heart rhythm problem which caused him to pass out," Kattar said. "If any of this happens at an athletic event, getting immediate CPR going and having an AED available is very important."
Kattar said CPR is still a way to possibly save someone’s life in this case and if possible, you should get certified.