Prepare coaches and parents to respond to medical emergencies
Fewer than 48 hours into the New Year, fans watching the final Monday Night Football game of the season between Cincinnati and Buffalo saw a chilling scene when the Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and medical personnel rushed to tend to him.
It was frightening footage, watched and re-watched over the following days, as the young man’s life was in peril.
And it should be a strong reminder for anyone involved in youth sports that a cardiac arrest can strike any athlete at any time.
Fast-acting medical personnel administered CPR on the field before transporting Hamlin to a hospital, but imagine this scenario occurring during a mid-week practice or Saturday-morning game in your community.
Who is trained and capable of rushing to perform CPR or use an AED while emergency responders are on the way?