Damar Hamlin visits Washington to promote AED bill
Ninety percent of the 350,000 people who will suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest this year will not survive. Of them, 7,000 will be under the age of 18.
“These victims will not even make it to the emergency room to have a fighting chance at life,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said Wednesday via a livestream to introduce the Access to AEDs Act in Washington, D.C. “This can be changed. This legislation is an important step on the journey to make that a reality.”
When viewers saw Buffalo Bills safety and McKees Rocks native Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest Jan. 2 during a “Monday Night Football” game in Cincinnati, they also saw the first links in the chain of survival working.
Survival outcomes more than double when a bystander uses a publicly available AED. Hamlin knows a quick response time saved his life and said every child should have access to the lifesaving emergency response he did.
Making sure that becomes reality is why U.S. Rep. Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida) and Rep. Bill Posey (R-Florida) introduced the bill.
“As a mom and member of Congress, I’m on a mission to expand lifesaving health care tools to school-aged children across the country by equipping elementary and secondary schools with AEDs and routine Cardiac Emergency Response training,” Cherfilus-McCormick said.
The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to elementary and secondary schools for purchasing and maintaining AEDs, replacing outdated equipment and providing education. Schools should also develop a cardiac emergency response plan and heart screening programs.
“Everything happened like it should in a cardiac emergency,” Brown said of Hamlin’s situation. “Early recognition. Calling 911. First responders administering high-quality CPR. Access to and using a defibrillator. All of these things happening beautifully are the reason that the wonderful and amazing Damar Hamlin is here with us today.”
Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system or structure, caused by an abnormality from birth or one that develops over time.
Attending the announcement of the bill was Hamlin, along with his parents, Nina and Mario. Hamlin is focused on the development, health and safety of youth through his charity The Chasing M’s Foundation Charitable Fund.
“The medical team saved my life,” Hamlin said at the podium, joined by his brother Damir, 8, and cousins Cameron, 10, and Dominick, 11. “I am humbled and inspired by the opportunity God has given me to help and protect young people based on what I experienced.”
Brown said among the saddest days of her life are when she receives calls from parents who have lost a child to sudden cardiac arrest. These parents want to know what can be done so that other families never have to experience what they’ve gone through.
“Damar is giving a voice to the voiceless,” Brown said. “He carries this not only in his heart but in his purpose in life. He has devoted his life to the positiveness of what happened to him is afforded to everyone else who suffers a cardiac arrest.”
Via a video message, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced a coalition of sports leagues and advocacy groups to start a 50 state campaign to ensure all high schools have access to AEDs, coaches receive CPR education and emergency action plans are in place.
“These measures helped save Damar’s life and no doubt will save countless lives of young athletes in the future,” Goodell said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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