Gatlinburg-Pittman athlete says she’s grateful for trainer who saved her life

A Gatlinburg-Pittman High School girls basketball player is recovering after collapsing due to a “cardiac incident” while coming off the court during a game in Gatlinburg on Monday.

Kendl Reagan said she doesn’t remember much about what happened during the game against Union County on Monday night in Gatlinburg.

“I couldn’t really form any words. I was kind of ‘what was going on?’ but no words were coming out of my mouth,” Kendl told WATE 6 on Thursday.

As the incident unfolded, everyone around Kendl quickly jumped into action.

Goodpasture athletic trainer Chris Snoddy remembered as ‘one of a kind’ servant leader

No job was too small for Chris Snoddy.

His title as Goodpasture’s athletic trainer didn’t matter. He was simply there to help.

So when players and officials noticed a wet spot on the floor during the Clarksville Academy-Goodpasture basketball game on Jan. 6, Snoddy got down on his hands and knees to dry it up with a towel as the student section roared.

Goodpasture senior guard Isaiah West offered to take care of a second slick area, but Snoddy refused.

“He just said, ‘You let me do the small things – you have a basketball game to win,’” West said. “That embodies the type of person…

Northeast Tennessee Schools Have Plans in Place for Athletic Emergency Situations

“One of the understood facts about athletics is the potential for injury or medical emergency.

This was highlighted this past week on a national stage when Buffalo Bills’ defender Damar Hamlin collapsed during a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati. Emergency personnel responded immediately to the situation, providing aid to Hamlin.

Football stands out as a sport where injuries can be more severe and require immediate attention. One of the good things about football is many area schools have medical doctors at the games.

West Ridge Athletic Director Anthony Richardson said trainers are on site whenever the Wolves have an athletic event...”

Athletic Trainers Save Lives. But an Alarming Number of High Schools Don't Employ Them

“When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field early in a game against Cincinnati on Jan. 2 and required life-saving CPR, David Silverstein had déjà vu.

Silverstein, a certified athletic trainer, now works with the U.S. Army at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, just south of Tacoma, Washington. But two years ago, in January 2021, he was sitting in the gym at Shaw High School in East Cleveland during halftime of a boys basketball game when a player rushed onto the floor.

“Z’s down, come quick!” 

“Z” was Zaharius Hillmon, a senior guard and younger brother of WNBA player Naz Hillmon.

Silverstein sprinted to the locker room to find Hillmon violently convulsing as a terrified teammate cradled him. Silverstein told the player to carefully lower Hillmon to the floor. 

At first glance, as Hillmon’s eyes rolled back into his head, Silverstein thought the teen was having a seizure. 

But then, “I did my ABCs, like I’d been trained to do,” Silverstein recalled.

That meant checking Hillmon’s airway, breathing and circulation. Hillmon was gasping repeatedly, a sure-tell sign someone can’t breathe on their own, he said. Silverstein checked Hillmon’s pulse. When he felt nothing, he immediately started CPR. 

Hillmon, just 17, was having a heart attack.”…

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Medical Team Stresses Importance of CPR Training Following Damar Hamlin Collapse

“The whole world watched as Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field Monday night and waited as he recovered all week in Cincinnati.

Members of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's medical team for student athletes said in situations like that, you don't necessarily need a medical degree to save someone's life.

"It can happen in a game situation, it can happen in a practice situation, it can happen in weight room situation," said UTC Assistant Director of Sports Medicine Evan Wilson said.

Wilson, Team Doctor Dr. William Garrett, and Erlanger Director and Paramedic Robbie Tester are just some of the many people who make up UTC's medical roster for athletes.”…

In the Wake of Damar Hamlin's Collapse, Doctor Urges Youth Leagues to Become Safe Star Certified

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — “Like the rest of the world, Dr. Alex Diamond's stomach dropped when Buffalo Safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.

"When you see it in real-time, it’s always traumatic and hits ya for sure," said Diamond, who is the Director of Vanderbilt's Youth Health Center.

He was then comforted to see that the NFL immediately sprung into action. That's because that's exactly what he preaches to youth sports leagues.

"Have an emergency action plan. And what that is is writing down and thinking about every particular injury, illness, emergency that can occur and how you would respond to that," said Dr. Diamond.”…

How Well Are Local Schools Prepared to Handle the Damar Hamlin Situation?

“TRI-CITIES (WJHL) – After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game Monday night, area high schools are evaluating their safety procedures should a player go down with a similar problem.

On-field medical staff performed CPR and administered an automated external defibrillator (AED) on Hamlin before he was transported to the hospital.

State laws in Tennessee and Virginia vary on requirements for schools to have the life-saving device on hand.”…