D'Youville University responds to Hamlin incident by offering community training

D’Youville working with Sports Medicine Concepts

Following the on-the-field cardiac arrest in the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game that left Damar Hamlin fighting for his life in an intensive care unit, D’Youville University has partnered with Sports Medicine Concepts to offer Core4 simulated training to local athletic trainers and coaches at the high school, college and university levels. The associated cost is $3, in recognition of Hamlin’s jersey number.

The advanced simulated experience will take place from 5-9 p.m. Jan. 30 in the D’Youville University Health Professions Hub. Organizers said, it “will educate participants on how to effectively respond to four critical life-threatening conditions, including cervical spine injury, isolated head trauma, truncal trauma, and cardiac arrest/arrhythmia. Upon completion of the experience, 50 professionals from the Western New York community will be better equipped to respond to game-time crisis situations and potentially save the lives of young athletes.” 

D’Youville University President Lorrie Clemo, Ph.D., said, “As a transformative health sciences university that participates in NCAA Division II athletic competition, the care and well-being of student-athletes is always a top institutional priority. Seeing Damar Hamlin collapse on the field was a candid reminder of the safety risks that athletes accept each time they take the field. As an educational institution, we were compelled to offer training to local athletic professionals with the hope that it helps young athletes in our community who may face traumatic events.” 

To help support the initiative, D’Youville University administrators, faculty and staff offered monetary donations in measures of three at a recent university assembly event. Considering the importance of this training, Sports Medicine Concepts has arranged a discounted cost for the university while also doubling the participant capacity from the standard 25 to 50. 

“Responding to emergencies in athletics presents unique challenges that require specific training,” Sports Medicine Concepts CEO Mike Cendoma said. “The right training allows sports medicine teams to exploit very small windows of opportunity to give critically injured athletes their best chance of survival. By providing access to Sports Medicine Concepts' sports emergency care training, D'Youville University is making it safer for all athletes across WNY.”

In addition to offering Core4 on Jan. 30, D’Youville University will ceremoniously recognize the efforts of the Buffalo Bills trainers responsible for saving Hamlin’s life.

“D’Youville University students are taught from day one that every moment matters when it comes to saving a life,” Clemo said. “The staff of the Buffalo Bills actualized this important lesson, for which I know Damar, his family, and the entire Western New York community are incredibly thankful.”

Community members who are interested in receiving this specialized tragedy training are encouraged to learn more and sign-up at the following link: https://dyouvilleevents.totalcamps.com/shop/product/157930 

D’Youville University is a nationally ranked private university headquartered in Buffalo and providing in-seat and online academic programs around the world. For more information, visit dyc.edu.