Opinion: Stop using Hamlin’s cardiac arrest for the anti-vax agenda


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Editor’s Note: Jonathan Reiner, MD, is a CNN medical analyst and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University. The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. View more opinion on CNN.



CNN
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The survival and recovery of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after his collapse during last week’s Monday Night Football game has been a happy, but all-too-real, demonstration of the importance of immediate CPR and prompt defibrillation in the crucial first few minutes following a sudden cardiac arrest. But while Hamlin’s near-death experience traumatized his family, teammates, the NFL and millions of people who witnessed his struggle live on television, for others it has become just another crass opportunity to promote vaccine disinformation.

– Source:
CNN
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If you don’t know how to perform CPR, watch this

In the first quarter of the game, with the Cincinnati Bengals leading the Bills 7-3, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught a short pass from quarterback Joe Burrow. Hamlin sprinted quickly towards him and met Higgins at the 50-yard line. Both players seemed to ready themselves for impact, with Higgins lowering his right shoulder and Hamlin spreading his arms for the tackle. When they collided, Hamlin’s left chest absorbed Higgins’ blow and both players went down.

For those watching the game, it looked like a routine play. But then, a second or two after Hamlin rose to his feet, he suddenly fell backwards onto the turf.

The subsequent televised effort to save the 24-year-old’s life was heroic but difficult to watch, culminating after several minutes — which seemed like an eternity — in his evacuation from the field by ambulance.

While the stunned commentators on ESPN and fans around the world tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed, the internet erupted with a blizzard of unfounded rumors.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, quickly parroted an unfounded anti-vaccine conspiracy theory, tweeting, “This is a tragic and all too familiar sight right now: Athletes dropping suddenly.” The tweet has been viewed nearly 12 million times.

Dr. David Drew Pinsky (otherwise known as “Dr. Drew”), an internist and television personality, tweeted similar language, “So disturbing. Another athlete who dropped suddenly.”



Read More: Opinion: Stop using Hamlin’s cardiac arrest for the anti-vax agenda 2023-01-13 12:23:00

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