Signature Healthcare - Youth Athletic First Responder Program

What is it?

The Youth Athletic First Responder Program addresses the issues of why sports tragedies occur, inherent dangers, and injury prevention. Basic CPR, automatic external defibrillator (AED) use, and a question-and-answer period are also part of the program. The program is co-presented in Signature Healthcare’s primary service area towns, by emergency department physicians and nurses, along with the town's fire department.

Who is it for?

Youth sports coaches, players, and parents who could serve as first responders during a traumatic injury or sudden cardiac arrest.

Why do they do it?

Each year, a growing number of youth athletes suffers sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports. In such cases, immediate attention by first responders can mean the difference between life and death. As parents and coaches at the local youth groups change, there continues to be a steady demand for services. The program remains a free service to our community. It is a great way for the local hospital to engage with the community in an age group that typically has little involvement with hospital services and for local EMS services to stay involved in the community.

Impact

Hundreds of participants have been trained. One participant ended up performing CPR and assisting responders with an AED only two weeks after the program, saving her co-worker’s life. The athletic first responder program has continued along at a strong pace with total number trained passing 1,000 in spring 2012. The program group performs trainings when requested by local communities. Most local athletic groups have been trained once, and the program is now seeing repeat training for new staff or parents.

Contact: Ken Lawson
Telephone: 508-941-7193
E-mail: klawson@signature-healthcare.org