Damar Hamlin visits Capitol Hill to urge Congress to introduce more defibrillators in schools

Damar Hamlin visited Capitol Hill Wednesday and urged US lawmakers to increase access to automated external defibrillators after the Access to AEDs Act was introduced this week.

Hamlin nearly died in January when he suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football Game vs. the Bengals.

The 25-year-old was given CPR and defibrillated before eventually spending more than nine days across two hospitals in a long road to recovery.

The AED present in Cincinnati played a massive role in saving Hamlin’s life, and now he wants schools to have better access to the all-important device.

‘Sudden cardiac arrest happens to more than 7,000 kids under the age of 18 every year in our country,’ HuffPost reported Hamlin as saying, alongside Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) and Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.).

Damar Hamlin visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday to promote the Access to AEDs Act

Hamlin was greeted with a hug by US Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY0

‘The majority of the kids impacted are student athletes. Research shows that 1 in every 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk.’

According to the publication, the bill would ‘authorize a grant program to purchase AEDs and fund cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED training programs in elementary and secondary schools.’

Much like he was honored throughout the NFL after his scary collapse, Hamlin was recognized in DC as well on Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) greeted the Bills safety in a signed jersey of his, as the two embraced with a hug.

While Hamlin made a miraculous recovery from the cardiac arrest, it’s unclear if he will return to the field for the Bills.

The 2021 sixth-round pick was continuing to see specialists as of last month, and told Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan that his goal was to get back playing.

Hamlin has indicated his desire to return to the field for the Bills in the future

However, it’s not just his choice whether or not he comes back for Buffalo.

‘It’s a decision for Damar but also for us,’ Bills’ GM Brandon Beane told reporters from the NFL combine.

Nonetheless, Hamlin is looking to make an impact beyond the gridiron in the meantime.

‘For schools that have AEDs, the survival rate for the children from sudden cardiac arrest is seven times higher,’ Hamlin said Wednesday.

‘The Access to AEDs Act will help ensure that schools are just as prepared and trained to respond in a time of crisis as those on the sideline of an NFL game.’