Recently, during routine summer football conditioning at a local high school, what began as a typical day on the field quickly became a test of preparation, composure, and life-saving skill.
As student-athletes ran sprints under the heat of the summer sun, one young athlete suddenly collapsed. Jeff Wiseman, a certified athletic trainer (ATC) with Riverside Sports Medicine and the designated medical professional on-site, was nearby and immediately responded. What he found was alarming: the student’s pulse was faint, breathing irregular, and he showed signs of seizure-like activity.
Jeff didn’t hesitate.
With no time to spare, he began performing chest compressions and activated the school’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP)—a detailed protocol designed for exactly this kind of situation. An AED (automated external defibrillator) was quickly retrieved. 911 was called. Coaches on the field, trained and coordinated, assisted as Jeff led the emergency response.
Within minutes, York County Fire & Safety arrived on scene, seamlessly joining the effort. Working together, this team of first responders stabilized the athlete and transported him to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where emergency medical staff continued advanced care. He was later transferred to CHKD’s pediatric cardiology unit for further evaluation and monitoring.
Thanks to the quick thinking, rapid response, and collaboration between Riverside’s athletic training team and local emergency responders, the student-athlete is now doing well and expected to make a full recovery.
What happened on that field is a powerful reminder of why certified athletic trainers—and well-rehearsed Emergency Action Plans—are critical components of student-athlete safety.
“Without the life-saving care that was quickly provided by Jeff and supported by our community partners, the outcome may have been tragic,” said Dr. John Barley, Sport Medicine Physician with Riverside.
While incidents like this are rare, they underscore the reality that medical emergencies can—and do—happen in youth sports. But when they do, Riverside’s team is ready.
