[ODDS and EVENS] NFL Player Damar Hamlin is Helping the AHA Promote Life-Saving CPR Skills

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin always wants to prevent opposing NFL teams from scoring points whenever he's on the field. Making touchdown-saving tackles, pass deflections, fumble recoveries and interceptions are important parts of his job.

Hamlin completed his fourth NFL season in 2024, making 14 starts for the AFC East champion Bills (13-4), finishing with 79 tackles, a career-high five pass breakups and his first two interceptions as a pro.

An integral part of the Bills defense, Hamlin is also a high-profile figure in raising awareness about heart health. Teaming up with the American Heart Association, he participated in a pair of CPR sessions with middle school students at The American School in Japan on March 27 in Chofu, a western suburb of Tokyo.

To connect the dots in Hamlin's life story and his ongoing commitment to public service, remember this: He survived an on-field cardiac arrest after making a tackle in the first quarter of a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023. His heart stopped functioning. Millions of people saw the unfolding crisis on TV.

Hamlin received CPR on the field, additional medical care in an ambulance and also at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's intensive care unit. He survived thanks to the professionalism and urgent help from trained medical personnel.

Outpouring of Support for Damar Hamlin

There was a tremendous outpouring of support for Hamlin throughout the NFL, and the game was postponed.

A statement from Bengals President Mike Brown a day later delivered an emotional response to the crisis.

"As medical personnel undertook extraordinary measures, both teams demonstrated respect and compassion while fans in the stadium and people around the country bolstered the support for Damar and love for each other," Brown said. "The Bengals are thankful for the love and compassion shown by all. Praying for Damar."

Grateful to be alive, Hamlin has dedicated time and money and energy to help make the world a better place. For example, in tribute to the Bills athletic training staff, Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation revealed the establishment of a scholarship in its honor.

Giving Back to the Community

On January 2, 2025, an announcement was made on the two-year anniversary of Hamlin's cardiac arrest. The Buffalo Heroes Scholarship was set up to provide financial assistance to 10 high school seniors and college-bound students who are enrolled in private high schools, trades schools or universities in the city.

"Two years ago, my life was forever changed, and I stand here today because of the incredible training of staff who acted quickly and saved me," Hamlin said in January. "Their dedication, expertise, and compassion remind us of the importance of being prepared in the moments that matter most. Tonight, I honor them ― not just for saving my life, but for inspiring me to continue giving back and spreading the message of preparedness and hope."

In March, thousands of miles away, Hamlin spoke at the ASIJ about his commitment to helping others and about teaming up with the AHA ― a win-win for the organization and the NFL ― to raise awareness about hands-only CPR.

Moving in a Positive Direction

Hamlin and many others with active roles in the AHA's Nation of Lifesavers movement have helped reduce the reluctance of people to feel willing and able to perform CPR.

The findings from a 2024 survey shed light on a positive trend.

"When Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during Monday Night Football in January of 2023, nearly seven out of every 10 US adults said they would not feel confident to act during a cardiac emergency," stated a January 2025 news release. "Based on the available data at the time, and tracking attitudes since, the association has seen a reported increase from 33% to 39% in bystander confidence to be able to perform any type of CPR ― or 17.7 million more Americans feeling confident to act in the event of a lifesaving emergency."

Words of Encouragement from Damar Hamlin

During the second of two hands-only CPR training sessions in the ASIJ gymnasium on March 27, around 200 middle school students participated. The first session had about the same number of students.

Manikin dummies (just a head and a chest) were used to simulate CPR on humans.

What I witnessed in front of the large assembled mass of students during the hands-only CPR training consisted of clapping and then pushing down on each manikin's chest to a rhythmic beat to maintain timing.

"It's real [valuable] to teach things beyond the classroom," commented Pip Curtis, ASIJ's middle school principal while standing in the gym.

Said Hamlin, "I'm super excited for everyone to learn CPR."

Two days before he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Yomiuri Giants' home game at Tokyo Dome, the NFL player added, "To be able to learn CPR and use it is comparable to being a superhero."

A Hands-Only CPR Training Session

Then, the enthusiastic visitor high-fived a throng of students before the session commenced.

"We're going to learn a superpower: how to save a life," said Marida Straccia, a global CPR trainer for the AHA.

Straccia's concise instructions to the students were clearly stated. Referring to manikins as hypothetical humans facing a health crisis, she cautioned the students to check if they were moving. She then outlined two important steps: call 119 (for medical emergencies in Japan) and then start compressing the palm of your hand in the middle of the chest.

"Push to the beat of a song," she instructed as a Taylor Swift tune played.

You are "keeping that person alive until help comes," Straccia added.

Nancy Brown, the American Heart Association's CEO, also visited the ASIJ for the CPR clinics and related activities on March 27. Her presence at the school alongside Hamlin underscored the American Heart Association's mission to save lives on a global scale.

A Joint Interview with Hamlin and Brown

Along with a reporting colleague from The Japan Times, I spoke with Hamilin and Brown about heart health awareness, his NFL career, his foundation’s investment in heart-related initiatives and the synergy between his foundation and the AHA.

It was inspiring to hear both of them talk about their lives and careers and when they first met.

Hamlin spoke first about how vital hands-only CPR clinics are in the goal of saving lives.

"It's very meaningful," Hamlin said. "The impact that we're making here is just astronomical to me just to even be here, and be a part of something that will last so much longer than just me." He reiterated what one of the ASIJ students said earlier in the day to highlight their mission: "We took a moment and created a movement."

The moment, of course, was during the aforementioned Bills-Bengals game in January 2023 when Hamlin's life was saved. Early on, during his road to recovery, he recalled, he and Brown had a "shared mission of just wanting to create so much impact across the world."

What was it like for him to interact with ASIJ students and watch them learn CPR?

"It was amazing to see," said Hamlin, who participated in his first overseas CPR clinic, a collaboration between the NFL and the AHA during the Buffalo Bills' trip to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in October 2023.

On a Shared Commitment to Save Lives

Brown shared details of the first time she met the NFL safety during the interview.

About a week and a half or two weeks after Hamlin was discharged from the Buffalo hospital in January 2023, she recalled, "we had an instantaneous connection for many reasons including the shared purpose that there were so many people whose lives could be saved, just like his life was saved."

Like Hamlin noted throughout the day at ASIJ, Brown also said she felt grateful for the opportunity to visit Japan for this work-related trip.

"It's just remarkable to be here in this great country to help people know this life-saving skill," Brown said. "And I think this school here has been so wonderful to partner with us to give us the chance to share the message with the kids. Because when young people learn a skill, we've seen this with many health movements over time like anti-smoking, it's the kids that create the change in their families."

Brown echoed a comment made earlier in the day from Hamlin about the Chasing M's Foundation and the AHA having "a shared mission to make sure everyone, everywhere learns this life-saving skill and we have the most fun when we're with kids."

Hamlin putting himself front and center as an advocate for CPR is a really big deal for the NFL and the AHA, according to Brown. And the movement is growing. Twenty-four of 32 NFL teams have promoted hands-only CPR training sessions.

"I'm so proud of him and how he's used this moment to be the global face of inspiration and the global face of resilience in so many ways," Brown stated. "And I think it's just a remarkable legacy that he will always have."

Insights from an ASIJ Administrator About Hamlin's Visit

Asked about the value of having a positive role model like Damar Hamlin sharing one of his life missions with the students, assistant middle school principal Cory Willey acknowledged the day's activities were important.

"I think it's a really great experience for our kids," Willey said in an interview.

"We talk a lot about our values and about instilling certain competencies in students," he added. "But to have someone who they automatically respect and gravitate towards and admire is really powerful."

Willey admitted that students can get tired of the same voices ― teachers, guidance counselors and other school officials. Which is why, he said, "for someone else to talk about their life's passion and helping others, I think, especially at this age being like someone who's got a lot going for them and could easily just kind of enjoy his fame and riches" provides an important example.

Willey affirmed that Hamlin’s speech and involvement in the CPR clinics totally resonated with the students.

"We could say something 150 times and he said it once and it just means so much more," Willey told me, "just because they naturally admire and respect him for who he is."

And how does view Damar Hamlin himself?

In his own words, "Being an advocate for the things that saved my life was a space that was uncomfortable and tough to navigate. But I knew the impact that it could make across the world if I did that."

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.