Damar Hamlin's Cardiac Arrest Underscores Need for Greater Medical Attention
After Buffalo Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington performed CPR on safety Damar Hamlin following his cardiac arrest on Monday night, questions have arisen regarding the medical attention that professional athletes receive—underscoring just how important proper medical care can be during times of crisis.
Jan. 06, 2023 6:12PM
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A photo of Denny Kellington performing CPR on Damar Hamlin with headlines reading "Damar Hamlin's Cardiac Arrest Underscores Need For Greater Medical Attention" surrounding them both.
On Monday night, Buffalo Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington was thrust into the spotlight when he performed CPR on safety Damar Hamlin after he went into cardiac arrest. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Kellington's speed and skill were "absolutely vital" in saving Hamlin's life. The incident has since raised questions about the medical attention that professional athletes receive, as well as the resources available to them in times of crisis. It is unclear whether or not Hamlin had access to a team doctor at the time of his cardiac arrest; however, what is clear is that Kellington was left with no other choice but to act quickly and decisively in order to save his teammate's life. Kellington himself is an experienced medical professional who has been with the Bills organization since 2017. He has a degree in exercise science from East Stroudsburg University and specializes in sports medicine. Despite his qualifications, it is still concerning that a situation like this occurred and highlights the need for greater medical attention for professional athletes. The incident also raises questions about how prepared teams are when it comes to dealing with emergency situations such as this one. While Kellington did an admirable job under pressure, it could have easily gone another way if he had not been present or if there had been any delays in responding to the situation. This raises concerns about whether or not teams are adequately prepared for emergencies like these and if they have enough personnel on hand who are trained and equipped to handle such scenarios effectively. Ultimately, while Kellington should be commended for his quick thinking and decisive action which ultimately saved Hamlin's life, this incident underscores just how important proper medical attention is for professional athletes—and how much more needs to be done by teams across all sports leagues when it comes to providing adequate resources and personnel in times of crisis.