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Fourteen-year-old Beckett Moore was two weeks into summer football camp at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, preparing for his first season as a defensive end. But on June 14, during a routine lap around the field, tragedy struck—Beckett collapsed from cardiac arrest.
Jaime Perez, the school’s contracted Athletic Trainer from Ascension Seton, was on the opposite end of the field when the players and coaches began shouting for help.
“They thought he was having a seizure."
But as soon as he reached Beckett, Perez recognized it was far more serious. Beckett’s heart had stopped.
Without hesitation, Perez sprang into action, performing CPR for over 20 minutes.
“I did what I was trained to do."
His swift, continuous chest compressions kept oxygen circulating through Beckett’s body while waiting for first responders. The strain was evident.
“I was getting exhausted.”
But Perez knew stopping wasn’t an option.
Though an automated external defibrillator (AED) was on campus, it wasn’t readily accessible at the field—a critical gap that delayed Beckett’s chances of a quicker recovery. As Perez worked tirelessly, players stepped up to assist by carrying emergency equipment from the arriving EMS team across the field.
Perez’s life-saving efforts didn’t just stabilize Beckett; they prevented any brain damage. Once EMS arrived, Beckett was transported to St. David’s Children’s Hospital and later transferred to Dell Children’s Medical Center for advanced cardiac care.
Perez’s role underscores the value of having a trained Athletic Trainer at every athletic event. His expertise in recognizing life-threatening situations and delivering immediate care saved Beckett’s life.
“Athletic trainers are trained for these emergencies. People fear doing it wrong, but acting is better than doing nothing.”
Thanks to Perez’s quick response, Beckett is alive today, a testament to the critical role Athletic Trainers play in protecting athletes. Discover more on the full story here!
