It’s safe to say that Buffalo Bills medical staff saved Damar Hamlin’s life on Monday.
Less than 72 hours after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during «Monday Night Football,» the Bills’ safety has shown a vast improvement, including responding to doctors’ orders and even communicating with them in writing.
None of that would have been possible if it hadn’t been for a «textbook run» by Bills medical staff, according to officials at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a missed Pittsburgh Steelers field goal during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, NY
(Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)
«It just really speaks to the immediate recognition that the Bills medical staff had made a significant and serious error. We can’t give their team enough credit,» said University of Cincinnati health physician Dr. William Knight. told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
«Unfortunately, there are occasionally injuries that occur on sports fields, whether soccer or otherwise, but it’s incredibly rare for something this serious to happen like this. And to be so quickly recognized, what they did was immediately order an emergency action plan. .»
«The Bills coaching staff that was with him immediately recognized that this was no run-of-the-mill injury, they had a major event on their hands and they responded immediately…» said Dr. Timothy Pritts. «It went as well as something like this can work in very challenging circumstances, and they did a fantastic job, which is why we’re here today.»
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
(Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INVOICE COACH RECOGNIZED FOR FAST RESPONSE IN DAMAR HAMLIN INCIDENT: ‘PRAISE THIS NAME AND PERSON’
Pritts added that it was «fair to say» that the results could have been very different if the response was delayed by even a few more seconds.
«He was quickly recognized by the Buffalo Bills medical staff, and that allowed for a very immediate resuscitation on the field,» Knight added.
According to Sports Illustrated, Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington administered CPR that was «absolutely vital» in saving Hamlin’s life after he collapsed on the field due to cardiac arrest following a tackle early in the first quarter. from Monday night’s game.
Fans gather outside the UC Medical Center for Damar Hamlin in Cincinnati on January 3, 2022.
(Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hamlin underwent CPR less than a minute after collapsing, and Bills’ staff performed CPR for nine minutes and used defibrillation.
The Bills also provided an update Thursday, saying Hamlin has shown «remarkable improvement» and appears to be «neurologically intact.»
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.