CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – As crowds gather to cheer on their favorite teams during the West Virginia High School State Basketball Tournament, all eyes are focused on the game. When a medical emergency happens, the focus shifts.
Scott James, a tournament volunteer, said, “When I got to that area, the gentleman was slumped over in his chair/seat. One of the policeman came up, checked his pulse, realized he didn’t have a pulse.”
The officer immediately started CPR, then a paramedic took over and then a nurse in the stands stepped in to help.
“She was a champ, man. She was going hard, and she went a long time,” James said.
During a basketball tournament the main focus isn’t where the AED machine is. The main focus is on the basketball game itself. But, in that moment, the first responders jumped into action, grabbed the AED machine and performed life-saving measures.
“The first responders were fantastic. I mean, I was just in awe watching them work, and then when the AED came that basically sealed the deal,” James said.
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