The horrific incident that almost claimed the life of Damar Hamlin last week could allow the Canadian Football League (CFL), its leaders and its coaches to discuss how to improve their protocols during league winter meetings.
Hamlin, a 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety, suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed in the middle of a game Jan. 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Under the bewildered gaze of millions of American television viewers, Hamlin got to his feet after making a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, before suddenly collapsing on the lawn.
Players from both teams surrounded Hamlin, as resuscitation maneuvers were carried out frantically on the pitch. First responders also reportedly used a defibrillator to resuscitate him before rushing him by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center some 19 minutes after the incident.
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said while the Hamlin incident is on the agenda at the league’s winter sittings, this one doesn’t need to be.
“We’ll discuss it as an agenda item, but I know we’ll all discuss it among ourselves since we all witnessed the incident in question,” Ambrosie said in a phone interview Tuesday from Kananaskis, Alta. I don’t know anyone working in the world of sport who was not affected by this incident. »
“We are currently collecting information, and we will review our protocols. This situation, fortunately for this young man, caused a positive shock wave, but, my faith, we can obviously learn from this incident and collectively improve. »
According to the National Football League (NFL), there are, on average, 30 health specialists in each stadium on game day. The league also employs paramedics to expedite the identification and treatment of injuries, including concussions.
CFL clubs must have defibrillators at their facilities that are accessible both during training and during games, and they also rely on paramedics present at the edge of the field to lend a hand in the event of an incident. During a game, the home team must ensure the presence of an ambulance, paramedics and other emergency medical services in the stadium.
The presence of first responders and an ambulance with the necessary equipment for resuscitation are also mandatory.
Ambrosie added that the discussions that will take place during the winter meetings could encourage the CFL to modify, or even replace, some of its medical protocols.
“It will set the table for a discussion that will take place as part of our annual medical meetings, which will take place in a few weeks, he recalled. The health specialists from each of the teams will then be brought together with our two medical directors, which should enable us to speed up the reflection even further. »
“What’s good about this medical foundation is that they (the CFL Players’ Association) are taking part in it, which is very important because we don’t want to embark on this project without their support. After that, if we have to make any modifications or changes, then we will announce them to our governors. [lors d’une rencontre en mars], will set them up and share the specifications with them. »