Buffalo Bills’s Hamlin Committed To Saving Lives, Just Like His

Buffalo Bills' safety Damar Hamlin knows the herculean effort and equipment that it took to save his life on the football field on that fateful night in December. Now Hamlin and his foundation are making sure that youth sports programs in several cities have the tools that they need to help save a life.

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According to the Associated Press, on Saturday at Highmark Stadium, Damar Hamlin handed out automated external defibrillators (AED) to nearly 50 youth sports and community organizations. The event, held at the home of the Buffalo Bills, kicked of Hamlin's Chasing M's CPR Tour.

Hamlin's organization offered free CPR training for more than 1,000 attendees. The Chasing M's tour plans to head to New York City, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. Hamlin discussed the significance of the event beyond his own experience. “Growing up playing sports, I never really remember ever thinking about where an AED was, or ever thinking about CPR training. I don’t ever remember a coach or a parent ever knowing where an AED was in a gym or stadium, or anywhere, for that matter." Hamlin is right and many youth programs don't have the money to purchase the life-saving equipment or set-up CPR training for their coaches.

Hamlin told the crowd on Saturday, “As we learned from my personal experience, it is very important and life-changing. This program is very important because it gives life-saving care to kids in their own communities and on the field.” Jason Stulb, executive director of the American Heart Association for the Buffalo/Niagara region, talked about events like this are intended “to turn a nation of bystanders into a nation of lifesavers.” Hamlin is certainly paying his new-life opportunity forward. This is a tremendous program that should be duplicated in every city in the country. Damar Hamlin is a shining example of being thankful.