HEART OF THE GAME
CPR and defibrillators saved Damar Hamlin’s life. The School of Nursing–Camden is working to help future first responders treat cardiac arrest.
When Damar Hamlin’s heart stopped in the middle of a nationally televised NFL game, the pulse of the world seemed to stop along with it. Broadcaster Joe Buck’s unprecedented announcement that CPR was being performed on the field sent chills down the spines of 23.8 million television viewers, prompting them to put rivalries aside and come together in support of the little-known second-year player. As Hamlin left the field in an ambulance, fans flocked to social media in search of any information on his condition, fearful that the night would end in tragedy. Within a week, however, Hamlin’s brush with death had transformed into a story of triumph and recovery—thanks to first responders’ decisive and effective use of CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to save his life.
CPR training and emergency response have long been points of pride for the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden. “CPR is a life-saving skill that requires practice to maintain competence and confidence,” said Marie O’Toole, interim dean of the School of Nursing. “Rutgers–Camden has always been committed to preparing students to respond to emergencies wherever they may occur.”
The role CPR played in saving Hamlin’s life and preserving his neurological function is inarguable. Within days of his cardiac arrest, he was able to communicate with family, friends, and teammates orally and in writing. By the time the Bills took the field for their next game, he was watching, cheering, and posting to social media throughout. One silver lining of his harrowing ordeal is that it caused interest in CPR and AED training to spike nationally. Those who were captivated by his story hoped that they, too, could be ready to help a friend, neighbor, or teammate survive a cardiac emergency.
“The American Heart Association’s website and educational resources have experienced a 620 percent increase in page views to their resources and a 145 percent increase in page views to their AED information page since Hamlin’s cardiac arrest,” said Catherine Stubin, assistant professor of nursing. Through the Heart Association, the School of Nursing provides CPR certification to over 100 Rutgers–Camden students annually.
In the fall of 2022, Rutgers–Camden was one of just 12 colleges and universities nationwide to become an early adopter of the cutting-edge Resuscitation Quality Improvement® (RQI) CPR training method, which uses digital technology to help CPR students study the effectiveness of their efforts and refine their techniques accordingly. The school plans to expand the initiative to all undergraduate and graduate students, and eventually to community residents and partners as part of the Center for Excellence in Interprofessional Practice, Education & Innovation.
Although Damar Hamlin is on the road to recovery, the image of his number 3, captioned with the phrase “Love for Damar,” will endure in the minds of those who found hope and inspiration in his story. For those in the nursing vocation, it will serve as a reminder that have the power to save lives and train others to do the same.
“CPR is such a vital competency that needs to be practiced on an ongoing basis. You lose it if you don’t use it,” said Donna Nickitas, Rutgers–Camden interim provost and former dean of the School of Nursing. “By maintaining competency through practice, we can ready ourselves to respond to emergencies and help those in need.”
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