Athletic training heroes
March 5, 2024 – Rosenberg, Texas – Thanks to swift actions taken by Lamar CISD Assistant Athletic Trainer Jayci Boudreaux-Stewart, Lamar CISD Police Officer Edgar Villegas, and Student Athletic Trainers Hannah Thomas and Brayden Wheeler, a Lamar Consolidated High School student can breathe a sigh of relief for the foreseeable future.
“The faster we act in a cardiac situation, the better survival rates an individual in cardiac arrest has,” Boudreaux-Stewart said. “I am thankful that I was able to use my skills as a Certified Athletic Trainer to assist a student in need.”
The afternoon track practice on February 22 started out routinely enough until one of the students collapsed outside the field house at Traylor Stadium. The student had no pulse and stopped breathing.
Thomas and Wheeler responded quickly and adeptly to the situation. Thomas retrieved the defibrillator while Wheeler flagged down the nearest custodian, Gilbert Moreno, who opened the gates to allow paramedics access to the stadium. As paramedics were enroute, Boudreaux-Stewart attached an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and began performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
“I kept thinking ‘He needs to be okay,’ and I knew that I couldn’t stop performing CPR until he was with EMS—no matter how long it took,” Boudreaux-Stewart said.
Boudreaux-Stewart continued chest compressions until Officer Villegas arrived on-site and took over CPR duties.
“My first thought was the safety and well-being of the student,” Officer Villegas said. “The fast action of our team saved the young man’s life, and I’m thankful I was able to render support during the crisis.”
By the time the paramedics arrived on-site, the student’s pulse had returned, and he was breathing again on his own. He was transported to the hospital, where he received further treatment.
“I am forever grateful for the fast and decisive actions of our first responders,” Lamar Consolidated High School Principal Sierra King said. “I am especially proud of our student trainers for using the skills they learned in class here to help save a Mustang in need.”
Incidentally, March is National Athletic Training Month, which recognizes the important work that athletic trainers perform daily. Boudreaux-Stewart, Villegas, Thomas, and Wheeler will be recognized at the Lamar CISD Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 19 for their life-saving actions
Athletic Training, Healthcare
heroes in athletic traininG
Beyond the Sport
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GHATS UPDATES
WORKSHOP Registration is OPEN
The workshop registrations are open and can be found on our Workshop Page. Register all of your students that you want to bring to the workshop. Do not forget about your taping contest participants. If your taping challenger needs to change that can be done by stopping by the taping contest area the day of the workshop or by emailing Johnny Gomez.
Be sure to checkout the NEW rules for the reimagined Robert Pieper Media Contest. There are important dates where items have to be submitted earlier than the workshop. Don’t forget about the Mark Salter Memorial Quiz Bowl too. These two opportunities allow students to show off their smarts.
Finally remember that students will have the opportunity to visit with college and get free swag at the event.
To the athletic trainers remember that the athletic trainer that is present with students must be a member of the organization. We will have a place where you can renew memberships and pay at the workshop. Cost of membership is $30.00.
Robert Pieper Student Media Contest Rules
The new rules are up for you to view on the Workshop page. This exciting reimagination of the poster contests still honors Robert Pieper while bringing the contest into the 21st century. There is a medium available for all talents. Whether you want the traditional poster or you want to try something a little more modern like Tiktok you can find a way to express yourself and educate your peers.
This year’s themes for the contest are BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS and LEARNING FROM THE PAST. These two exciting themes leaves a lot open for participants to really talk about any number of topics. Students, here is your opportunity to push the boundaries of your learning and understanding of sports medicine and athletic training.
This reimagining of the contest only limits you, the presenter, by your own imagination. Students, take a look at the contest rules and get with your athletic trainers to strategize how you can take home that 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place plaque. Remember to start strategizing now because the workshop is only a short time away!
Membership Renewal
It is all hands in on a GHATS membership this year! We are excited to have great benefits for our membership including continuing education opportunities, professional award eligibility, student award eligibility, invites to social functions, professional networking, and more!
The cost of member membership is $30.00, but for a limited time you can get all these benefits for just $20.00. This offer expires at 11:59pm on December 1st.