VIDEO: Inside the Atrium Health Dome on Monday, there was a different mission: one that didn’t require anyone to put on a helmet and pads.
Instead, there was a bigger lesson -- one that is possibly life-saving.
“I always grew up wanting to be a football player, wanting to make it to the NFL. This situation has just brought a whole bigger life purpose for me,” said Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin teamed up with the Carolina Panthers and the American Heart Association to bring awareness about the importance of learning CPR. Inside the dome Monday, players, staff members, and PSL owners received the opportunity to learn the valuable skill. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests happen in homes so knowing how to perform CPR is critically important.
“I just want to keep raising awareness and trying to get as many people that we can CPR certified because you never know when you can be a hero,” Hamlin said.