A basketball coach who helped resuscitate a teenage player credits his first aid training. During the incident, the youth collapsed on the court in cardiac arrest.

Timely intervention

According to Chris Waycott, an RCMP constable who coaches the Gloucester Wolverines basketball team, he recalled his training and moved into action.

Edmonton first aid — The prompt delivery of CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can save a life.

The Wolverines were playing at Avalon Public School in Orleans and the 16-year old player had just entered the game. The youth was in the game for a couple of minutes. There was a break and he was walking back to take his spot on the floor and he collapsed. His body went limp and progressed into a seizure.

Waycott ran onto the floor along with another coach, Gilbert Rose, also an RCMP constable and a parent, Dawn Pentland. Waycott knew right away that the teen was in cardiac arrest and initiated CPR with Pentland’s help. Rose ran to the school lobby to fetch the automated external defibrillator (AED) while the scorer called 911.

Waycott and Rose had trained on AEDs and CPR as part of their RCMP training, while Pentland knew CPR. Waycott attached the electrodes to the boy’s chest and the machine started its automatic analysis and suggests a shock.

The paramedics arrived a few minutes later and took him to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He is still there and in stable condition while he waits for a permanent pacemaker to be installed. The Grade 10 student at College Catholique Mer Bleue had no history of a heart condition.

Saving a life

The prompt delivery of CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can save a life. These life-saving skills can improve the chances of survival during cardiac emergencies.

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