Skip to content
NOWCAST Pittsburgh's Action News 4 at 11pm Sunday
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Hamlin's collapse highlights importance of CPR

According to the American Heart Association, CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Hamlin's collapse highlights importance of CPR

According to the American Heart Association, CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

FORMER COACH SAID HE HAS MADE GIVING TO OTHERS PRIORITY IN HIS LIFE. ALSO HEARING FROM HAMLIN’S COLLEGE COACH. CALL THE YOUNG SAFETY A HERO TO MANY CHILDREN HE WENT ON TO SAY THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAS HIS BACK. >> SINCE MONDAY NIGHT PEOPLE NATIONWIDE HAS BEEN SHOWING SUPPORT BY DONATING TO HIS CHARITY. 24━YEAR━OLD STARTED THE CHASING FIRST PROGRAM WAS A TOY DRIVE T HELP LOCAL CHILDREN IN 2020. THE GO FOR ME ACCOUNT HAD AN INITIAL GOAL
Advertisement
Hamlin's collapse highlights importance of CPR

According to the American Heart Association, CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

On Monday night, the world watched as 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle. Hamlin was administered CPR on the field before being rushed to a Cincinnati hospital. According to the American Heart Association, CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. "One of the amazing things that did happen during those terrible events was that Damar received almost immediate CPR right there on the field, which is absolutely critical," explained Leeanna McKibben, an American Heart Association volunteer expert. McKibben says the American Heart Association estimates that only 35 to 40 percent of people who experience a cardiac arrest actually receive CPR. Hands only CPR can be done by anyone, for anyone. You don't have to be certified, you just need to know what to do. It is simple and requires only two steps. The first step is to call emergency services. The second step is to push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. The American Heart Association says to think of the tempo to the Bee Gee's song "Stayin' Alive" or "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston. CPR is critical because it can help keep the heart pumping and blood flowing to vital organs until an electrical shock from a defibrillator or AED is available to restore the heart to a normal heart rhythm. The American Heart association offers a free video that walks people through the proper way to administer CPR. You can also sign up and take a class to become CPR certified.

On Monday night, the world watched as 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle. Hamlin was administered CPR on the field before being rushed to a Cincinnati hospital.

According to the American Heart Association, CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Advertisement

"One of the amazing things that did happen during those terrible events was that Damar received almost immediate CPR right there on the field, which is absolutely critical," explained Leeanna McKibben, an American Heart Association volunteer expert.

McKibben says the American Heart Association estimates that only 35 to 40 percent of people who experience a cardiac arrest actually receive CPR.

Hands only CPR can be done by anyone, for anyone. You don't have to be certified, you just need to know what to do. It is simple and requires only two steps. The first step is to call emergency services. The second step is to push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. The American Heart Association says to think of the tempo to the Bee Gee's song "Stayin' Alive" or "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston.

CPR is critical because it can help keep the heart pumping and blood flowing to vital organs until an electrical shock from a defibrillator or AED is available to restore the heart to a normal heart rhythm.

The American Heart association offers a free video that walks people through the proper way to administer CPR. You can also sign up and take a class to become CPR certified.