3 years after suffering cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin continues CPR awareness campaign
Safety Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Three years ago, on Jan. 2, 2023, an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals turned tragic when Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. Since then, Hamilin has made it his mission to increase awareness of CPR.
The backstory:
The Buffalo Bills circle up as play is suspended after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) collapsed during the NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo
The scary incident occurred with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter with Cincinnati leading the game, 7-3. The Bengals were on their second drive of the game when quarterback Joe Burrow threw a pass to Tee Higgins. Bills safety Hamlin came over to make a tackle to end the play and the hit caused him to collapse.
Hamlin was down on the field for a while as he received CPR from the medical staff and was resuscitated, restoring his heartbeat. Hamiln was then put in an ambulance and rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The game was initially suspended before officially being canceled later in the week.
At the hospital, Hamlin spent his first two days under sedation and breathing through a ventilator. On the third day, he was awakened and eventually able to grip people’s hands and breathe on his own.
Hamlin remained hospitalized for a week in Cincinnati and then returned to Buffalo to continue his recovery.
Bills sideline reporter details Damar Hamlin's collapse
Sal Capaccio is a Buffalo Bills beat and sideline reporter, and was at the game Monday, when Damar Hamlin collapsed. He joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to talk more about Hamlin's condition.
Big picture view:
Later in 2023, Hamlin started the "Chasing M’s Foundation" to empower youth through sports, health, education, and community engagement. The foundation also focuses on CPR training, AED access, toy drives, and life skills, stemming from Hamlin's own cardiac event and mission to give back.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin helps unveil Access to AEDs Act after cardiac arrest | LiveNOW from FOX
Bills safety Damar Hamlin helps unveil Access to AEDs Act after cardiac arrest | LiveNOW from FOX Bills safety Damar Hamlin helped unveil Access to the AEDs Act. He suffered cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals and use of an AED helped save his life. Subscribe to LiveNOW from FOX! https://www.youtube.com/livenowfox?su... Where to watch LiveNOW from FOX: https://www.livenowfox.com/ Follow us @LiveNOWFOX on Twitter: https://twitter.com/livenowfox Raw and unfiltered. Watch a non-stop stream of breaking news, live events and stories across the nation. Limited commentary. No opinion. Experience LiveNOW from FOX.
In 2023, Hamlin teamed up with the American Heart Association to promote CPR awareness. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
3 for Heart Challenge promotes CPR awareness
In 2023, Hamlin teamed up with the American Heart Association to promote CPR awareness.
The 3 for Heart Challenge encourages people to take three steps to save lives:
1. Learn Hands-Only CPR via a quick online video.
2. Donate to AHA to fund CPR training.
3. Challenge three friends on social media using #3forHeart to do the same.
Damar Hamlin named Captain of Abbott HeartMates program
Abbott Laboratories produces medical devices including solutions for cardiovascular health. Inspired by Hamlin’s remarkable comeback from sudden cardiac arrest, the company started "Abbott HeartMates", a program that celebrates the power of teamwork and the bravery of those chasing their own heart-related comeback stories, as well as the caregivers helping them on their journeys.
Abbott HeartMates lets members share stories, offer support, learn from each other and Abbott heart-health experts, and celebrate wins.
Abbott teamed up with Hamlin, naming him the captain of HeartMates, a program for people with heart conditions and their loved ones to share their stories and receive emotional support
Damar Hamlin appears in two Hallmark Channel movies
Damar Hamlin joined several Buffalo Bills players and Head Coach Sean McDermott appearing in the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie "Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story."
Hamlin also appeared in Hallmark’s "The More the Merrier," a movie centered around a teenage boy receiving treatment for a heart condition.
The film features special cameos by real-life individuals who have overcome serious health challenges. Hamlin appeared in a scene filmed in Buffalo, with five children and teens from the Abbott HeartMates program.
Abbott says Hamlin had previously met all the HeartMates in the film through his involvement in the Abbott HeartMates community, and he has formed close personal bonds with them and their families.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from FOX News, previous FOX Television Stations reporting, Abbott Laboratories, and the Hallmark Channel. This story was reported from Orlando.