Damar Hamlin

[Rufus]

I'm horrified at Hamlin's collapse for him, his family, and teammates. Unfortunately it also dredged up something that happened while I was officiating years ago and I'll admit it's affecting me in a very bad way.

Was doing a competitive MS rec league game and was lead tableside when a player slashed in for a layup. He missed the shot, there was no contact that I saw and the other team began the fast-break. The shooter started to move back on defense then bent over as if catching his breath. As I'm running by him I say "You ok big guy?" but he doesn't answer and I have to stay with the play.

The fast break peters out and I look back and the kid was walking over to his bench area still bent over. I stop play and the kid lays down across a couple of the bench chairs, now clutching his chest in obvious pain/discomfort. He cries out a couple of times and vomits on the court.

This is all in a couple of seconds but a facility staff member gets on the horn to 911 and paramedics show up quickly (never quickly enough, or so it seems, of course). They're talking with him, getting vitals, and he's responsive but still clutching his chest and crying out occasionally. They get him on a gurney and hustle him out to the ambulance.

Everyone is shocked of course and there's no thought of continuing the game so we just sort of file out of the facility and head home. I called my assignor to let him know what happened, still in shock, and wondering if I missed contact to the head or chest area when the kid drove for the layup.

The kid died soon after reaching the hospital. The cause of death was pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and I believe it was caused by a family genetic disorder of the heart that had been undiagnosed to that point.

I'm barely holding it together typing this. How do you view something like that and not carry it with you? How can you see it repeat on national TV, with hopefully a better outcome, and not have that night rush back and hit you like a ton of bricks?

I don't mean to burden you all with my issues and goodness knows we need to be praying and concentrating on Hamlin now. I just needed to let someone know what's going on and hope it helps.

[BillyMac]

The Damar Hamlin situation reminded me of the two times I did CPR on somebody, both times with a unpleasant result.

Back in the mid-1980's, I worked a summer part time job as a bartender and starter at a local golf course. We had a golfer come off the eighteenth green who collapsed in the parking lot. No breathing, no pulse. As a middle school coach I was certified in CPR, so while somebody called 911, I went to work the golfer. If one has never performed CPR for real on someone, one doesn't truly realize how physically demanding and tiring it is. While waiting for the ambulance, I became so tired that I almost had to stop. Luckily another golfer, who also knew CPR, showed up to help me. Took about fifteen minutes for the ambulance to show up and take him to the hospital, he didn't make it.

About five years ago, I was participating in a kayak race. I had already finished when a paddler, mid-race, slumped over in his kayak and fell in the water. Luckily a safety power boat was there and brought him back to shore. No breathing, no pulse. Three of us performed CPR on him. Took about twenty minutes for the ambulance to show up and take him to the hospital, he didn't make it.

Learn CPR, even if it's "Hands Only CPR". Don't do nothing, be a Good Samaritan and try to save a life.

Persuade your local town government to purchase automated external defibrillators for schools, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Persuade your church and gym to purchase automated external defibrillators.

[Matt S.]

Rufus, I feel for you.

As someone who has seen his own infant son need to be resuscitated, it's not something you ever forget. My son passed away because a doctor botched the delivery...it took them 14 minutes to establish a heartbeat, but the brain damage had already been done.

I can only pray that Mr. Hamlin doesn't suffer a similar fate.

Originally Posted by Rufus

I'm horrified at Hamlin's collapse for him, his family, and teammates. Unfortunately it also dredged up something that happened while I was officiating years ago and I'll admit it's affecting me in a very bad way.

Was doing a competitive MS rec league game and was lead tableside when a player slashed in for a layup. He missed the shot, there was no contact that I saw and the other team began the fast-break. The shooter started to move back on defense then bent over as if catching his breath. As I'm running by him I say "You ok big guy?" but he doesn't answer and I have to stay with the play.

The fast break peters out and I look back and the kid was walking over to his bench area still bent over. I stop play and the kid lays down across a couple of the bench chairs, now clutching his chest in obvious pain/discomfort. He cries out a couple of times and vomits on the court.

This is all in a couple of seconds but a facility staff member gets on the horn to 911 and paramedics show up quickly (never quickly enough, or so it seems, of course). They're talking with him, getting vitals, and he's responsive but still clutching his chest and crying out occasionally. They get him on a gurney and hustle him out to the ambulance.

Everyone is shocked of course and there's no thought of continuing the game so we just sort of file out of the facility and head home. I called my assignor to let him know what happened, still in shock, and wondering if I missed contact to the head or chest area when the kid drove for the layup.

The kid died soon after reaching the hospital. The cause of death was pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and I believe it was caused by a family genetic disorder of the heart that had been undiagnosed to that point.

I'm barely holding it together typing this. How do you view something like that and not carry it with you? How can you see it repeat on national TV, with hopefully a better outcome, and not have that night rush back and hit you like a ton of bricks?

I don't mean to burden you all with my issues and goodness knows we need to be praying and concentrating on Hamlin now. I just needed to let someone know what's going on and hope it helps.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Learn CPR, even if it's "Hands Only CPR".

Hands only has been standard CPR for some years now. Precordial thump went out years ago, assisted ventilation more recently.