USA TODAY sports
It is not known at this time if Bill’s safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was caused by commotio cordis, a rare condition resulting from sudden trauma to the chest. It is one of the specific risks of sudden death for youth baseball players.
And even if Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was ultimately unrelated to commotio cordis, the situation underscores the importance of having automated external defibrillators available for youth sporting events.
In New Orleans, the Saints and Pelicans decided to make sure the devices were available. The teams will donate 40 AEDs to the New Orleans Recreation Department and 27 to the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department.
“In light of the horrific events involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, we felt it was imperative that we reach out to our local recreational facilities to assess their needs,” Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said in a press release. “NFL games have the most advanced medical staff and equipment, and we believe this needs to be replicated as closely as possible at the youth sports level.”
And so it is. The extensive medical presence at NFL games underscores the reality that resources are far more scarce at the lower levels of all sports. At least AEDs and one or more CPR-trained individuals should be present at every sporting event.
It is good that the saints do their part to help their church. We hope that other professional sports teams in other communities will follow suit.