Damar Hamlin would have never thought that he would come face to face with death as he headed to the field one fateful night. January 2 was a bone-chilling moment during the Monday Night Football match between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin, just 75 days before his 25th birthday, collapsed on the ground after taking a hit on his chest while attempting a tackle. After he crashed on the ground, he managed to stand up and took a couple of steps before collapsing again. The whole stadium was under chills during the 9 minutes that felt like an eternity while the medical team was going all in resuscitating Hamlin. He was swiftly rushed to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition for almost 48 hours. After a tenuous period, he was fortunately released the next week.

Months after the episode, Hamlin is healthy and happy now gearing up for the upcoming season. The 25-year-old brought light to a rare condition that could claim lives, bringing more attention to the need for enhanced safety guidelines in the field.

The fatal incident shed light on critical condition

Hamlin’s fatal moment on the field dropped knowledge about a rare health condition in the world. The 25-year-old had later confirmed in a press conference that he experienced commotio cordis. It’s a condition that causes the heart to stop followed by a blunt hit to one’s chest. The blow induces the disruption of heart rhythm, resulting in cardiac arrest. This condition is extremely rare and spotted in only 334 cases dating back to 1980, according to a medical study.

Generally, the condition is fatal, resulting in death. However, there has been a spike in the survival rate, all thanks to advanced medical treatment amenities and early recognition in recent times. Medical personnel swarmed Hamlin the moment he dropped, whose timely intervention played a crucial role in saving his life.

READ MORE: NFL World Praise Medical Staff Who Saved Damar Hamlin’s Life in ‘Three Minute Window’ in Front of 70,000 People

Recognizing their services, the Buffalo Bills training staff was honored at the 2023 ESPY Awards by awarding the Pat Tillman Award for Service by Hamlin himself.

The wake of Hamlin’s unfortunate incident sparked discussions on the rare health condition. It also needs to review the safety protocols in place and explore methods to minimize potential risks on the field.

Tackling injuries on the field

It is no doubt that football is one of the riskiest games fraught with injuries that can be fatal. Over the course of years, the league continues to add and modify safety guidelines and risk-eradication measures. These guidelines can help eliminate dangerous situations. They can also bring down the overall rate of injuries. Since 2002 alone, the league has made over 50 rule changes in this regard.

Following a surge in concussions among players, in 2018 NFL strictly prohibited players from lowering their heads and smashing their helmets into opponents and making it into a foul. Last year, this rule was modified to penalize initiating contact with helmets.

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