AED Preparation, Training Saves Another Life in Ohio
On January 9, 2024, Ohio took a major step forward in athlete safety when House Bill 47 was signed into law. The legislation mandates that all schools must have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on site and that coaches – including youth coaches – must be properly trained in how to use them. I was honored to be a participant in testifying before the Ohio House of Representatives in support of the bill because I’ve seen firsthand the difference this training makes.
In athletics, we plan for a lot – practice schedules, game strategies, team travel – but nothing matters more than being prepared for the moment when a life is on the line. And that moment can come without warning.
The Matthew Mangine Jr. Story
My advocacy for AED training is deeply connected to my involvement with The Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation. Matthew was a promising high school soccer player who tragically collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during a summer practice. His team didn’t have immediate access to an AED, and despite efforts to revive him, Matthew never regained consciousness. His parents, in the midst of unimaginable grief, made it their mission to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.
Their foundation is dedicated to spreading awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and ensuring that coaches, athletes and communities are equipped to respond instantly and effectively. Their motto is clear: You get one shot to save a life. Be ready to take it.
Take 10Cincinnati: Small Time, Big Impact
At my previous school, we partnered with the Matthew Mangine Foundation and our athletic trainers to implement Take 10Cincinnati training for every student-athlete, coach and staff member. Take 10 is a grassroots effort led by doctors, rescuers and community leaders to promote compression-only CPR – a hands-only technique that is quick to learn, easy to remember, and incredibly effective.
The “10” stands for the 10 minutes it takes to learn. This is not a certification course, but rather a confidence-builder – a way to make sure anyone, from a freshman basketball player to a marching band member, knows what to do if someone’s heart stops.
When I joined Bloom-Carroll Schools (Carroll, Ohio), I brought the program with me. With the help of the foundation and my former athletic trainers, we trained all of our coaches and extended it to our athletes and the marching band. Sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t wait for the “right” person to be nearby – anyone could be the one who needs to step up.
The Afternoon It All Became Real
Last winter, our training was put to the ultimate test.
We were minutes away from tip-off at a girls high school basketball game. The players were warming up, the gym was buzzing with pre-game energy, and nothing felt out of the ordinary. Then, suddenly, one of the opposing team’s athletes slouched down against the wall and complained of having difficulties breathing.
We quickly moved her to the athletic training room. Within moments, she stopped breathing.
Our athletic trainer immediately began chest compressions while I sprinted to grab the AED they carried from the gym. Two of her coaches were already there when I returned. I ripped open the AED case, pulled out the pads, and began preparations to place them on her chest.
Before we could apply them, she coughed – a small, brief breath of life – and began breathing again. I grabbed my phone and called 911.
As I was speaking to dispatch, a cardiologist who happened to be in the gym entered the room. The crowd of concerned staff, players and parents was growing too large, and we asked everyone but essential personnel to clear out.
Then, just as quickly, her breathing stopped again.
The doctor pulled out a pocketknife, cut away her jersey, and placed the AED pads on her chest. The machine began analyzing her heart rhythm, and we all waited for the command to shock. Instead, it indicated a pulse – she had started breathing again.
The paramedics arrived within minutes and transported her to the hospital. That night, she survived because the people around her knew what to do, had the tools to do it, and acted without hesitation.
Why Training Matters
That afternoon reinforced a truth I’ve said for years: It’s not a matter of “IF” it will happen, it’s a matter of “WHEN” it will happen.
Having an AED nearby is only half the equation. The other half is making sure that when seconds matter, the people around know exactly how to respond. That requires regular, repeated training – not once every two years for a certification card, but drills and refreshers that keep those skills sharp.
At Bloom-Carroll, we now retrain our athletes and coaches before every season. Just like fire drills or tornado drills, it’s about building automatic responses so there’s no hesitation in the real moment.
Questions Every Parent Should Ask
Parents can be powerful advocates for safety. Whether your child is in youth soccer, high school marching band or travel baseball, you have the right to know how their program is prepared for emergencies. Here are essential questions to ask your child’s coach or athletic director:
Will there be an AED machine available or close by?
What emergency action plan (EAP) does your program have in place if my child is injured?
How often is the EAP updated and practiced?
What training does your staff have regarding the EAP, and do they have current certifications?
Will there be a cold-water tub at every practice or game during hot weather?
Are athletic trainers present at practices and games?
Who will call me in the event my child is injured?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Where is the nearest fire station?
If my child has an allergic reaction or asthma attack, is someone prepared to act?
Will you be able to administer their EpiPen or inhaler?
Source: McNair, Martin, Can My Child Play? The Questions We Should Have Asked, p.238, 2020
These questions aren’t about being a “difficult” parent – they’re about being an informed one. The answers could be the difference between a smooth, life-saving response and a chaotic scramble.
The Takeaway
AEDs save lives, but only when people know where they are, how to use them, and have the courage to step forward in the moment of crisis. Training programs like Take 10Cincinnati and the advocacy of organizations like the Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation are making sure more people are ready when that moment comes.
The afternoon that player collapsed, everything happened in seconds. Our team’s calm, coordinated actions weren’t a coincidence – they were the direct result of preparation, repetition, and the belief that it will happen someday, and we must be ready.
You can’t predict when you’ll need an AED, but you can decide today to learn how to use one. Because when the time comes, you get one shot. And that shot could save a life.
Larry Herges is the athletic director at the Bloom-Carroll Local Public School District in Carroll, Ohio.
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