The Impact of Damar Hamlin: Discussing Resuscitation With Residents, Families

On January 3, 2023, 13 million people were watching as the Buffalo Bills played football at Cincinnati when the player Damar Hamlin was hit and collapsed on the field. It soon became clear that he was in full cardiac arrest. Medics were immediately available to administer CPR, and Hamlin was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, intubated, and placed on a ventilator. He was subsequently transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center, then discharged home on January 11, 2023.

How many geriatric patients or their families will see Damar Hamlin’s miraculous recovery and interpret this success as evidence that CPR is effective for everyone who has a cardiac arrest? Each year in the United States, about 35,000 people experience a cardiac arrest; however, many will not have multiple health providers available to begin CPR, or be a 23-year-old athlete with no underlying medical issues. 

The contrast between our residents and Damar Hamlin are significant and profound. The chances of successful CPR in the long-term care setting are less than 5%, according to most studies, primarily because of the age, medical history, and functional limitations of those who code in this setting. Of course, Mr Hamlin had none of the limitations our residents exhibit. 

The successful resuscitation and recovery of Damar Hamlin is a tribute the quality of medical care immediately rendered to him on the field as well as the subsequent hospitals. However, we will need to use Mr Hamlin’s experience as a teaching moment for our residents and their families and discuss how his conditions contrast with residents living in long-term care facilities.  The events of January 3, 2023, can be used as a jumping off point to illustrate what can and cannot be accomplished by the medical system.