**Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest: A Harrowing Reminder of the Importance of CPR**.
On January 2, 2023, the world watched in horror as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a televised football game. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest, a sudden and unexpected loss of heart function. Thanks to the quick response of medical personnel and the administration of CPR, Hamlin’s life was saved..
Hamlin’s cardiac arrest has brought renewed attention to the importance of CPR, a life-saving technique that can be performed by anyone, regardless of their medical training. CPR helps to keep oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive..
**The Importance of Early CPR**.
The sooner CPR is performed, the greater the chance of survival for a cardiac arrest victim. Studies have shown that CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. However, only about half of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR from a bystander..
One of the reasons for the low rate of bystander CPR is a lack of awareness and training. Many people are simply unaware of how to perform CPR or are hesitant to do so. Hamlin’s cardiac arrest has sparked a renewed interest in CPR education, with many people seeking out training classes and resources..
**How to Perform CPR**.
CPR is a simple but effective technique that can be performed by anyone. The steps of CPR are as follows:.
1. **Check for responsiveness:** Tap the person’s shoulder and shout, .
