Opinion: CPR training, AEDs help us all win the game of life
Anyone who was watching Monday Night Football on Jan. 2 now knows what the acronyms CPR and AED stand for. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator are being discussed everywhere and by everyone since that night. Increased awareness is good, even when a situation is difficult. There are many ways to take part. Whether through contributions, medicine, prayers or other support, I wanted to provide some encouragement for us all.

Thankfully, the health professionals on the sideline that evening began CPR and used an AED quickly − even before Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was taken to UC Medical Center. And by all accounts, that quick and full intervention saved Hamlin’s life. Now back home, he seems on the road to recovery. However, before we all move onto the playoffs, let’s remember what we learned from what occurred at Paycor Stadium that night − education, training, preparedness, awareness, quick action and understanding of how to react and what to do.

I’ve heard it said that "failing to prepare, is preparation for failure." Having the right equipment and being properly trained saves lives. The American Heart Association says that bystander implementation of CPR and AEDs improve survival rates by as much as three-fold. Even though these fully trained health professionals weren’t "bystanders," they were right there to react quickly. And beyond that sideline, it was a reminder for Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to reach out to our entire staff to ensure the AEDs at all partner locations were immediately rechecked for battery life and operability.

This kind of emergency doesn’t only happen to professional athletes. An example of a similar situation, James Weber’s Enquirer article shared a story about one of my Beacon colleagues, long-time Moeller Athletic Trainer Craig Lindsey. It details his experience on the sideline at Moeller High School when a student athlete was struck by a lacrosse ball and collapsed from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Craig administered CPR and used the available AED right on the field until the paramedics arrived. Just like Hamlin, that young athlete survived. Whether you are on the field, the sidelines of life in other capacities at home or work, such circumstances may occur and being ready is key.

Every year, there are more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in America. And on any given day, 20% of the U.S. population can be found attending or working at a school. Yet despite recommendations from the scientific community and health organizations like the American Heart Association, the laws requiring AEDs for schools vary widely from state to state.

As we move past that hushed Monday night and bring light to such situations, let’s ask ourselves what can we do to help and be ready?

• Get CPR certified.
• Learn how to use an AED.
• Make sure there are working AEDs at your child’s school, your place of work and wherever your family members gather to play, coach or cheer on those who do. Ask questions and ensure awareness of how you and those around you are prepared… just in case.
• If you are so moved, contact your leaders at work, administration at school, elected officials about legislation requiring these lifesaving trainings and tools wherever groups gather − work, schools, gyms, stadiums, and others that are not equipped currently with AEDs and perhaps should be.

In my more than 25 years as the medical director with the Cincinnati Reds, I have seen plenty of injuries, performed surgeries and have led medical teams to aid in recoveries. My Ortho Alliance, Beacon colleagues, and I are partners that provide comprehensive care through our physicians, medical staff, athletic trainers, and others with more than 30 local high schools, colleges and professional teams in greater Cincinnati. So, I feel confident when I say having the trained personnel and the right equipment means those organizations are better prepared in case the worst happens.

We should want to learn more and grow from witnessing such a scary and eye-opening experience. So, let’s do just that. If more of us are trained, making a truly lifesaving resource more widely available, we answer Damar Hamlin’s question of "Who won the game?" simply: "We all win, at the game of life."

Dr. E. Timothy Kremchek, of Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in sports medicine.