“He was not breathing. He had no pulse.”

Those were the panicked thoughts racing through School Recourse Office Philip Stone’s mind when he arrived on the scene earlier this month.

It was a worst-case scenario, and he had to act quickly.

Ethan Empfield, a junior at Herndon High School in Virginia, collapsed on the football field during gym class and was unresponsive.

Stone quickly grabbed his radio and said, “All hands on deck. CPR has begun, bring the AED,'" he told NBC Washington.

Stone’s concerned voice on the radio made the serious nature of the situation abundantly clear. Assistant principal Amanda Hudson and nursing aide Robin Weinstein received the call and rushed out to the field with the AED to assist.

Stone had already begun chest compressions while Hudson began mouth-to-mouth and Weinstein prepared the AED.

Although the three of them had individually trained for this exact scenario, it was the first time they worked as a team.

And quite a team they were, reviving Empfield and combining to save his life as the ambulance arrived.

The high school student was rushed to the hospital and is currently recovering. He may even be back to school as early as next week. 

“The fact that he’s come out of it with no neurological or physical impairments is just unbelievable," said Angie Erschens, Empfield’s mother.

Erschens has had a hard time putting into words just how grateful she is, but she has nothing but praise for the heroes who rushed to her son’s rescue.

As a member of USA Football’s High School Heads Up Football program, all coaches at Herndon are trained in how to respond to sudden cardiac arrest and use an AED.

AEDs – also commonly called defibrillators – are simple, easy-to-use life saving devices that should be easily accessible when an emergency strikes. They are automatic, so anyone can use them and will not administer unless it detects an unbeating heart.

Does your school or community have an AED?  Parents across the country are beginning to realize the value and necessity of these life-saving devices.  Some school systems, such as the Jackson-Madison County School System in Florida, are taking preemptive action and making sure every school in the community has an AED. Sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 cause of death among children and teens during activity, but studies have shown that quick response with an AED increases the chance for survival by 80 percent.

Interested in learning more or acquiring an AED? USA Football and Physio-Control offer grants along with a discount on purchasing.  

 

Photo courtesy of Facebook / Oakbrook Church - Ethan Empfield is second from the left, wearing No. 52.