Reprinted from WLWT Cincinnati, story by Ashley Kirklen. Link to WLWT article.
CINCINNATI — Exactly one week ago today, the entire country saw how a matter of seconds meant the difference between life and death for Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin.
The combination of immediate action from the Bills’ medical staff, CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, changed the game for Hamlin’s chances of survival.
Logan Batson has been in that situation, except the outcome wasn’t good.
Eleven years ago, Batson’s brother Cameron had a sudden cardiac arrest on a soccer field (Read Cameron’s Story).
“There was not an AED on the field,” Batson said.
Cameron died on the soccer field.
“Really, at this point, I just wish that all communities, all fields, all schools could have that opportunity that there’s going to be an AED and CPR as fast as possible,” Batson said.
According to the American Heart Association, less than 12% of people who suffer cardiac arrest survive, the survival rate decreases every minute after a collapse, and the average EMS response time is six minutes.
Every second is crucial.
Batson and his family started a nonprofit organization called Cameron’s Cause to make sure other people have a better chance of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“We’ve had schools reach out, they want AEDs. They saw what happened. They know how important it is. I think not only having the AED on-site but having that emergency plan when this happens, if this happens,” Batson said.
Cameron’s Cause has donated AEDs as far away as Haiti.
There’s currently no federal law or law in Ohio requiring businesses to have AEDs, but many states require certain industries and facilities to have them.
Some counties and cities also require specific companies to have an AED on the premise.
