This article is a follow-up to Myocarditis is more common than Commotio Cardis.
I remembered that American football players wear shoulder pads extending to the chest, and I wondered how effective chest compressions would be with the protective equipment.
In cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the standard established by the American Heart Association for the depth of chest compressions is 5 cm or 2 inches.
A study from Temple University showed that chest compressions over or under the chest pads resulted in a compression depth of 3.15 cm (1.24 inches) and 3.65 cm (1.43 in), respectively.[1]
I don’t know if they removed the shoulder pads, but it took 15 minutes before Damar was removed from the field, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
If no effective CPR was made, that could mean 15 minutes of inadequate oxygen to the brain.
It only takes five minutes before the brain gets an irreversible anoxic brain injury. That may be why Damar still has no respiratory drive even as he has regained his pulse.
Breathing is involuntary. That’s why we breathe even when we sleep. However, the respiratory muscles depend on a functioning breathing center in the brain stem. If that gets damaged, then breathing stops.
I trust that the medical staff of the Buffalo Bills did what they had to do.
The Buffalo Bills released the following statement regarding Damar Hamlin as of Wednesday, January 4, at 1:30 pm.
Damar remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight.
He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.
As I mentioned in my previous post, Damar Hamlin is fit and strong. Athletes like him have ischemic preconditioning of their brain and heart due to their fitness and conditioning program.
Despite the odds, I’m hopeful that he survives.
Damar needs our prayers.
Here is a proper way to remove the shoulder pads in an emergency.
Related:
- What is Ischemic Preconditioning?
- High-Intensity Interval Training can Activate Ischemic Preconditioning
- Prescriptions that Promote and Pharmaceuticals that Prevent Ischemic Preconditioning
- The Story of KAATSU. The Incredible Technique for Muscle Hypertrophy
- The Game-Changing Uses of KAATSU
- How to Do Blood Flow Restriction Training
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Reference:
Waninger KN, Goodbred A, Vanic K, Hauth J, Onia J, Stoltzfus J, Melanson S. Adequate performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques during simulated cardiac arrest over and under protective equipment in football. Clin J Sport Med. 2014 Jul;24(4):280-3. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000022. PMID: 24184851.
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