Sports franchises and communities have come together in the wake of Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football and New Orleans' pro teams are no exception.
The Saints and Pelicans announced Thursday 67 schools in the local area will receive automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
'In light of the horrible events involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, we felt it was urgent that we reach out to our local recreational facilities to determine their needs,' said owner Gayle Benson.
'NFL games have the most advanced medical staff and equipment on hand and we believe this needs to be replicated as best as possible on the youth sports level.'
Forty New Orleans Recreation Department facilities and 27 Jefferson Parish Recreation Department venues will now have access to AEDs - this includes two football fields, three baseball fields and 35 parks.
The NBA and NFL franchise will also foot the bill for training sessions for staff at the facilities to become familiar with the life-saving equipment.
Hamlin received CPR, which without could have driven a different outcome, on the field during the eventually canceled Buffalo-Cincinnati MNF game.
The 24-year-old is currently 'awake' and has made 'substantial improvement' after suffering the cardiac arrest after a hit from Bengals wideout Tee Higgins, who spoke for the first time Thursday since the incident.
Bills' assistant trainer Denny Kellington gave Hamlin life-saving CPR on the field after he collapsed, much to the shock of teammates and opposing players.
Naturally, the game was suspended before rescheduling was ruled out in recent days.
NFL owners will meet Friday to discuss the league's proposal to potentially play the AFC Championship at a neutral site after playoff seeding was impacted by the cancelation of the Week 17 game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
That highly-anticipated showdown carried significant playoff implications with the Bills currently occupying the AFC's No. 1 seed. Cincinnati are two spots behind at No. 3.
