Hamlin starts CPR awareness campaign
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is using his harrowing experience to raise awareness and money for CPR. In the process he’s challenging three cultural titans to do the same.
Hamlin announced Wednesday he is partnering with the American Heart Association to launch the “#3forHeart CPR Challenge,” a social media campaign intended to raise CPR education and training by challenging people on social platforms to participate. To initiate the campaign, Hamlin challenged NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who announced his retirement earlier on Wednesday, former first lady Michelle Obama and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in a message posted on his verified Twitter account.
“I’m excited to be teaming up with the American Heart Association,” Hamlin said Wednesday in a news release. “It’s going to be an amazing opportunity to impact and educate millions of people on the importance of CPR. It literally saved my life.”
The challenge involves three steps. The first is to visit the website of the challenge, heart.org/3, to watch a minute-long video on how to perform hands-only CPR. The second is to donate to the American Heart Association and the third is to use the hashtag #3forHeart to challenge three people on social media to do the same.
Hamlin, 24, suffered cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game Jan. 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals after he collided with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. The play happened during the first quarter of the game, which was temporarily suspended then subsequently postponed. Hamlin was treated with CPR and an automated external defibrillator, and his heartbeat was restored on the field before he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The game was later canceled.
After Hamlin completed what doctors have called a “remarkable recovery,” he was released from the hospital nine days after the incident. Hamlin visited the team facility while the Bills were in the playoffs and attended Buffalo’s divisional round loss against the Bengals just three weeks after his incident.
“The world watched in fear when Damar collapsed during that game,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a news release. “But if you follow his advice, you can become a lifesaver in 3 steps, and you’ll know what to do in the event an adult or teen suddenly collapses in your presence. Because most cardiac arrests that happen outside of a hospital occur in the home, the life you save will most likely be a loved one. The volunteers, supporters and staff of the American Heart Association are so grateful that he is paying it forward and helping ensure others also have a better chance for a positive outcome.”