The American Heart Association will work alongside the Buffalo Bills for the next five years, after the NFL side made a £1million commitment to the charity.
The sporting world came to a standstill earlier this year as Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during their Week 17 clash against Cincinnati Bengals. The game was subsequently abandoned, but thankfully Hamlin has been on the road to recovery ever since.
Hamlin is still working towards his return to the NFL and has remarkably joined his Bills teammates for voluntary OTAs having been cleared by three different specialists. Hamlin has been doing his best to raise awareness for cardiac arrests in young people since his frightening incident and the Bills are now doing their bit, with training sessions being held at Highmark Stadium that include Hands-Only CPR training and family friendly activities.
"We are very excited and proud to announce our partnership with the American Heart Association, with the goal of working together to help increase the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest," said Bills EVP/COO Ron Raccuia. "Over the last year, we learned first-hand the impact of a cardiac arrest incident with Kim Pegula, Damar Hamlin and too many others in our community.
"Alongside the American Heart Association, we hope to educate and empower the WNY region to learn lifesaving skills including Hands-Only CPR, the role of AEDs and the importance of receiving timely medical attention. Our hope is to provide everyone in Buffalo, including those in underresourced areas who would not normally have access to similar education and training, the ability to save a life if that time ever presents itself."
This is the latest course of action by the Bills, who have already invested in increasing the education and training for sudden cardiac arrest incidents. The Bills have already announced partnerships with the Bills Foundation, Highmark, Lawley Insurance, and the Buffalo and Erie County Public libraries.
Libraries around the county have seen American Heart Association CPR Anytime Kits placed in every facility. In addition to this, both CPR certification and Hands-Only CPR training have been conducted with members of staff at the Bills this off-season.
"From seeing Damar Hamlin collapse, to reading about Kim Pegula being saved by a loved one, the importance of CPR has been in the forefront of the Buffalo community," said Jason Stulb, executive director of the American Heart Association in Buffalo and Niagara. "Unfortunately, too many sudden cardiac arrest victims don't get the help those two did.
"Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency when seconds matter is literally the difference between life and death. Thanks to support from the Buffalo Bills, we will be able to improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest in our community. More people will be ready to respond in those crucial first moments after cardiac arrest."
