Demar collapsed immediately after getting struck by an opponent’s helmet into his chest near his heart, which caused an immediate and life threatening event called Commotio cordis.

Commotio cordis is a type of sudden cardiac arrest that occurs as a result of a blunt impact to the chest, usually during sports or other physical activities. The impact causes the heart to suddenly stop beating effectively, leading to a lack of blood flow to the rest of the body. This can be a life-threatening emergency, as it can cause a person to collapse and lose consciousness within seconds.

The most common cause of commotio cordis is a blow to the chest from a sports ball, such as a baseball or lacrosse ball, or from another person’s body. This type of impact can cause the heart to go into a state of “electrical chaos,” resulting in a disruption of the normal electrical signals that control the heart’s rhythm. This can lead to a condition called ventricular fibrillation, which is a type of abnormal heartbeat that can be fatal if left untreated.

Commotio cordis is rare, but it is most likely to occur in young athletes, especially those who participate in contact sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse. It can also occur in people who are involved in other physical activities, such as horseback riding or karate.

The treatment for commotio cordis is immediate CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation, which is the use of an electric shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm, which is what happened in Demar’s case. This must be done within a few minutes of the impact in order to have the best chance of survival. If CPR and defibrillation are performed quickly, the chances of survival can be as high as 70%.
To prevent commotio cordis, it is important for athletes and others who are involved in physical activities to wear appropriate protective equipment, such as chest protectors, and to follow safety guidelines. It is also important for people to learn CPR and be prepared to respond in an emergency situation.

In conclusion, commotio cordis is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can occur as a result of a blunt impact to the chest. It is most commonly seen in young athletes and can be treated with CPR and defibrillation if performed quickly. To prevent this condition, it is important to wear appropriate protective equipment and to be prepared to respond in an emergency situation. Everyone should know CPR and for most cases chest compressions is the key to most CPR until EMS arrives and early access to an automatic defribillator is the key to survival.