We are all praying for Buffalo Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin, after he was hit, causing a cardiac event, sending him to the ICU. This is a nightmare for any athlete, and disheartening for family, friends and fans.

As nurses, medical students, even parents, when viewing these types of tragic events, it is natural to think about what you would do in an emergency situation like this. Especially a parent attending a child’s sporting event, having the knowledge and ability to help out in an emergency can start to feel more important than ever.

On today’s episode, rapid response nurse and our host, Sarah Lorenzini, has invited guest Dr. Jeremy Alland, the official physician for the Chicago Bulls basketball team, to help us unravel what happened to Damar Hamlin on the football field, and how we can better prepare ourselves for cardiac events as medical professionals in non-medical settings.

We go over sports medicine doctor’s roles, common cardiac events that occur in sporting events, how to treat them, and how to stay vigilant (not paranoid) in situations where there is a possibility of a cardiac event.

This episode isn’t only for medical professionals or students, this is also for anyone who wants to be prepared and helpful in emergency situations.

Tune in today to hear practical information and advice that could potentially help save someone’s life. 

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Alland’s role as the Chicago Bulls team physician
• What happened to Damar Hamlin?
• What is commotio cordis?
• Explanation of the how sports related cardiac events occur for non-nurses
• A possibility of what happened to Damar Hamlin
• What happens when a player collapses on the field? 
• What is an emergency action plan in sports medicine?
• Why AEDs are important in an emergency
• How was Damar Hamlin able to stand up and collapse again after he was hit?
• Advice for lay people and medical professionals witnessing a sports emergency
• A free app to download to locate AEDs in your area: Pulse Point AED

https://apps.apple.com/app/id867150971

• Who is the best person to do CPR in an emergency?

To connect with Dr. Jeremy Alland, head to his instagram page 

@JeremyAllandMD

 or check out his podcast by visiting 

www.yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com

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