Athletic Trainers Use AED to Save Florida Teen During Preseason Game

The important discussion on the need for organizations to have access to Athletic Trainers and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) continued in Florida this week. 

Timothy Burroughs-Love, a Jacksonville high school student-athlete, is recovering after experiencing a seizure during a Miami high school preseason football game.

Medical staff administered two defibrillator shocks – one on the field and another in the ambulance – to revive him.

Grateful for the quick response, his coach and family are acknowledging the athletic training staff and paramedics who saved his life.

The incident has once again highlighted the necessity of Certified Athletic Trainers in schools.

While Burroughs-Love undergoes medical tests, 20% of public high schools in the state of Florida lack Athletic Trainers.

Bob Sefcik, executive director of the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, has advocated to address this gap. He's been pushing legislators and school districts to add them into every high school in the state. 

All public high schools in Duval County have Certified Athletic Trainers who not only respond to emergencies but also monitor conditions like heat exhaustion using tools like the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Thermometer (WBGT). 

This thermometer is an essential tool for ATs because it guides outdoor activity time based on weather conditions. WBGT thermometers can help prevent heat stress, which can exacerbate health conditions in young athletes.

The article on the incident stresses the importance of parental involvement in ensuring hydration and safety during extreme heat and also highlights the need for AEDs in schools, like the one used to save Burroughs-Love's life.