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In the minutes following Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest Monday night, reports say the Buffalo Bills player was given CPR, oxygen and put on a stretcher before an ambulance took him to a hospital.
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, was also used on the field before his heartbeat was restored, the NFL confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday.
But as players and medical personnel crowded the football field, it’s hard to know exactly what happened – or what should have happened – after Hamlin collapsed during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While many details remain unclear, health experts say the on-field treatment falls in line with emergency response protocols.
«Time is important,» said Dr. Laxmi Mehta, director of preventative cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. «Speedy treatment is essential in order to preserve heart muscle and brain tissue function and the other organs.»
Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard gain. Hamlin stood up but immediately collapsed to the ground.
An ambulance was brought onto the field while he was administered CPR for nearly 10 minutes, according to play-by-play announcer Joe Buck.
His heartbeat was restored on the field. Prior to going into the ambulance, he was placed on a stretcher and given oxygen
The Bills said early Tuesday morning the 24-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he was sedated as of Tuesday afternoon.
Sudden cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly loses its normal rhythm and stops pumping blood, according to the Sports Institute, part of the University of Washington School of Medicine system.
