A track athlete competing at Huntley (Ill.) High School on Monday collapsed at the finish line and was unresponsive. Off-duty paramedics and the school’s athletic trainer intervened with life saving measures.
According to NBC Chicago, the incident occurred at 7:20 p.m. at the freshman/sophomore boys’ FVC championship track meet at Huntley High School. Paramedics were called to the scene, but athletic trainers and off-duty paramedics in the stands wasted no time. They began compressions and delivered a shock with the automated external defibrillator (AED) before first responders arrived.
Once on scene, the paramedics took over care of the student-athlete, and he did regain consciousness before being transported to a nearby hospital.
“Through the coordinated efforts of everyone involved, the teenager regained consciousness and showed signs of improving vital signs before being transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment," the Fire Protection District said.
One of the off-duty paramedics in the stands, Andy Milewski, was in attendance to watch his own son compete. He said, "They had just finished the relay that that one student was in. And he collapsed."
The student-athlete attends Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Ill., and is reported to be in stable condition at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
“This incident serves as a powerful reminder of how important early intervention can be during cardiac emergencies,” Huntley fire chief Dan Wagner said in a release. "...incidents like this demonstrate just how important rapid CPR, AED access, and people willing to step in and help can truly be.”
The Huntley Fire Department is currently implementing a PulsePoint AED program in the county to help community members learn to locate and identify nearby AEDs during cardiac emergencies. The program includes the creation of a map of all AEDs in the community.
"Teachers, students, everyone who has the opportunity to get hands-on CPR and AED training should definitely do it," Milewski advised.
