Quick thinking and acting by first responders saved the life of a St. Cloud Middle School basketball coach Tuesday night.
Just after 7:30 p.m., during a middle school girls basketball game between St. Cloud and Horizon Middle School, at the St. Cloud High School gym, the St. Cloud coach collapsed suddenly on the court, according to St. Cloud Police officials. School Resource Officer Stephen Burrows was among those who rushed in to assist, and when Burrows and a physician’s assistant in attendance for the game both verified the coach did not have a pulse, chest compressions were started.
Burrows helped deploy an automated external defibrillator (AED) located inside the gym, thanks to that and CPR compressions, the coach regained consciousness.
A St. Cloud Fire Rescue crew arrived at the gym shortly thereafter, took over medical care, and transported the coach, now alert and oriented, to a local hospital for further treatment.
“Quick action tonight by our SRO absolutely helped to resuscitate the coach and give her a fighting chance for recovery,” said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “I commend Officer Burrows for a job well done and offer my well wishes to the coach for a full and speedy return to health.”
Chad Ansbaugh is the varsity girls coach at St. Cloud High, and was in the gym Tuesday as the incident unfolded.
"Luckily our gym was full of angels who happened to all be there at the right time, with a purpose," he said in a Facebook update Wednesday. "Due to the efforts of law enforcement, the game referees, our high school girls, school admin, and other heroes who literally came out of nowhere, Coach is still with us today. She is resting at the hospital as doctors help her through this. She is alert and has been touching base with me."
A student trainer at the game knew that an AED was available at the gym, and where it was located, which helped provide a good outcome in this incident — and showcased the benefit of the device. Per stats provided by St. Cloud Police, the American Heart Association states 9 out of 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute live, and their chances for survival while waiting for emergency medical services during a cardiac emergency decrease by 10% every minute without CPR.
AED training — highly recommended by St. Cloud first responders, along with CPR training — is available through the American Heart Association at https://cpr.heart.org/en/training-programs/aed-implementation and the Red Cross at https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/aed/aed-training. Local CPR familiarity courses are available through the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department. To make an appointment, call 407-957-8480.
