Proper planning: How the NFL prepares its officials and medical staffs for potential cardiac events during games
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- When it comes to the medical preparations taken before every game in the National Football League, nothing is left to chance and every possibility is considered.
That's why emergency crews and first responders were ready when the unthinkable happened to Damar Hamlin on Monday night in Cincinnati.
As players anxiously summoned the medical team to Hamlin on the turf at Paycor Stadium, the response was swift with every effort planned for exactly what had happened.
The Steelers along with every other NFL team have a slew of medical professionals on their sidelines to handle any potential injury.
As protected as the players may be with padding and helmets, history has shown -- and as the concern on many faces clearly showed, players can sustain injuries that if not handled precisely, can be paralyzing or even life-threatening.
While Hamlin's loss of a heartbeat is extremely rare, it's something that is carefully planned for.
"The sixty minute meeting is the most important thing we do on Sundays," said NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills. "It involves everyone on the medical care team from both teams.
In a cardiac event, every response need is considered and a person is assigned to handle it, from who does the resuscitation, who brings the defibrillator onto the field, and who handles breathing issues.
"They talk specifically about locations of emergency equipment, who's going to lead if we have cardiac arrest, and how the chain of command will go," Dr. Sills said.
It's all covered, nothing is left to chance or question.
"To me it's one of the most important things we do on game day and it's part of the reason why in this tragic moment on Monday night, we could have a quick, effective, and really transformational response," Dr. Sills said.
In addition to medical events that may happen on the field, the medical professionals, especially EMS workers, are ready to respond to a similar emergency no matter where it happens in the stadium.
