![An AED, located just outside the doors to Hastings’ gymnasium, was used to save Da’Marion Hicks’ life June 14.](/sites/default/files/2022-08/220818_Hastings_2H.jpg)
Hastings' Life-Saving Response Reinforces Vital Importance of Being Prepared
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 23, 2022
HASTINGS – Preseason silence, mixed with anticipation, made Hastings High School’s gym feel especially pristine last week.
The raucousness is returning soon as the school’s volleyball teams are into their first matches of a new season, with winter sports bringing everyone inside in a few months. This is a place where big-game memories are made – but one from a scrimmage June 14 certainly will stick with many who were at Hastings High that day.
That evening, Potterville junior Da’Marion Hicks was playing in a basketball scrimmage when he suffered a heart attack due to a valve that later required open-heart surgery.
During a period of just a few minutes that could have meant his life, Hastings staff, students and a doctor who fortunately happened to be watching his son’s team from the stands, responded to assist Hicks before it was too late. In fact, he’s expected to be cleared to return this upcoming basketball season.
It’s a situation everyone hopes will never happen, but very occasionally it does. And when it did this time, Hastings – with crucial assistance coming out of the bleachers – showed what can be done to assure a best-possible result.
“We debriefed after this whole thing, and we actually had six people from our school (there) trained in CPR and AED use. Enough people felt comfortable enough to take some action to cause it to have a good outcome,” Hastings athletic director Mike Goggins said. “I think more times than not in a situation like this, bad results don’t come from people trying to help. Bad results come from people being afraid to help. What was great about this situation was … lots of people took the initiative to jump in.”
As another school year begins, Hastings’ ready response should continue to reinforce the importance of being prepared for the scariest of situations. (The Grand Rapids Press spoke with Hicks as he was beginning his recovery; click here to read.)
Emergency planning for sports venues has emerged as an important topic especially over the last decade, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) detail how these should work, with the “Anyone Can Save A Life” plan provided to all member schools by the MHSAA at the start of the 2015-16 school year.
Goggins said that while Hastings doesn’t necessarily have a “formal” plan like those linked above, what his department does is “saturate” his teams’ coaches and athletes with knowledge of where to find AEDs – and Hastings also has created a setup whereby a person is never more than one minute from an AED while on school property.
That evening, four boys basketball teams were playing on adjacent courts – including Potterville against Wyoming Tri-unity Christian. Goggins himself wasn’t at the school at the time (although he quickly arrived after being notified of the situation), but the following is the collection of information he has gathered over the last two months.
- Hicks had felt especially fatigued that evening and actually had mentioned to a few Hastings players during their scrimmage earlier that night that he was having a hard time catching his breath – definitely rare for a three-sport athlete who had run the 400 meters at an MHSAA Track & Field Finals a few weeks earlier.
- Hicks went to his bench for a break during the Tri-unity scrimmage, and laid down. Goggins said Potterville teammates thought Hicks was just gassed, but then noticed his eyes rolling back into his head. They started yelling for help.
- Hastings boys basketball coach Rich Long sprang into action, running over to the Potterville bench and then calling into the crowd to see if anyone with medical expertise could help a student in distress. Meanwhile, Long was joined by Hastings’ strength coach (and U.S. Marine) James Avery – who was training athletes in the weight room in the balcony overlooking the gym – and Dr. Luke Van Klompenberg, an emergency medicine physician at Holland Hospital who was there watching his son play for Tri-unity.
- Long sent an athlete to retrieve the closest AED, located on the wall just outside the gym doors. He also sent a parent to call 9-1-1, and Saxons boys track & field coach Lin Nickels sent multiple athletes to set up a relay near the school’s doors to direct paramedics when they arrived.
- Van Klompenberg, meanwhile, couldn’t find Hicks’ pulse, and the athlete’s breathing was shallow. Avery had begun chest compressions, the AED was used, and as the ambulance arrived Hicks was beginning to regain some consciousness. He was transported to the local Spectrum Health Pennock hospital, then to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids.
“It was one of those things where it just worked,” Goggins said. “My message, if nothing else, is we all practice it for a time that may never come – but the more you can saturate your people with the idea of A, being prepared, and B, don’t be afraid to take action … that’s really I think the key.”
Beginning this year, the MHSAA is requiring all head coaches at the varsity, junior varsity and freshman levels to have CPR certification. That training almost always includes direction in the use of an AED.
Hastings has been on this track for a while. The MHSAA’s first CPR requirement for coaches was added for the 2015-16 school year, just for varsity head coaches – but Goggins made it a requirement for all of his coaches at all levels at that time.
Hastings also has taken AED prep to another level. There are 16 throughout the district – one each at the four elementary schools, two at the middle school and 10 at the high school – and they represent an even bigger investment in the life-saving technology as the district’s school board purchased those 16 a year ago to replace 12 that were nearing their expirations.
Goggins said doctors have told him that if Hicks had not received care for even 4-5 more minutes, he would not have survived because of the damage done to his heart and brain. Potterville athletic director and boys basketball coach Jake Briney said surgeons have broken things down to a 45-second window that made the difference between a good result and a sad one.
Coincidentally, Briney had scheduled a game this upcoming season against Wyoming Tri-unity Christian; Potterville should be tough, and Tri-unity is last season’s Division 4 runner-up. But the events of June 14 will make the events of this upcoming Jan. 14 much more meaningful.
Briney said Potterville also has formed a close relationship with Hastings. Multiple Saxons administrators have checked in, including Goggins almost daily during the first weeks after the incident.
Briney is filled with nothing but praise for Hastings’ preparation. And both athletic directors noted a similar effect at their schools as another school year begins.
“It really, really made the training, made you look at it through a different lens,” Briney said.
“Our fall coaches are now like, ‘You know, if Heather (Coipel, Hastings’ trainer) wanted to stop by and run through the AED procedure again, that would be great,’” Goggins said. “(Or) ‘Where is the AED? We have one at the fieldhouse, right? Where’s the closest one for me again?’ They’re just doublechecking.”
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He is a senior editor of MHSAA.com's editorial content and has served as MHSAA Communications Director since January 2021. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
PHOTOS (Top) An AED, located just outside the doors to Hastings’ gymnasium, was used to save Da’Marion Hicks’ life June 14. (Middle) Strength coach James Avery emerged from the balcony weight room to assist in Hicks’ care that evening. (Photos by Geoff Kimmerly.)
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An Athletic Trainer's Guide To Winter Sports You Should Test Out This Year
February 15, 2022
Christina Eyers, Ed.D., AT, ATC, is the Director of Athletic Training & Community Outreach with Henry Ford Sports Medicine.
With the winter Olympics kicking off, you might be wondering which (if any) winter sports are safe for you to try.
In addition to favorite pastimes like skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating, athletes in the winter Olympics are shining a light on lesser-known sports that are worth checking out if you're feeling adventurous. (Curling anyone?)
Breaking Down Winter Olympic Sports
Whether you prefer snow or ice, there are plenty of cold-weather activities that offer a heart-pumping workout — and you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to join in the fun. A bonus: Many of these activities are easy on your joints and offer cross-training benefits.
Several favorites:
- Cross-country skiing. Cross-country skiing is a full-body, endurance pursuit similar to running. But since you're gliding through the snow, not pounding pavement, there's less stress and strain on your joints — and a lower risk of repetitive use injuries.
- Ice skating. Figure skating is among the most popular winter Olympic sports. It's also the oldest sport in the winter program. Even if you feel unsteady on ice skates (and what beginner doesn't?), taking an introductory lesson can help you glide safely while learning proper mechanics. Since falling is common for beginners, make sure you wear some extra padding and take your time as you master new maneuvers.
- Curling. A unique Olympic sport, curling is like shuffleboard on ice. While it may be one of the slower sports in the winter games, it's also a great game to play on the ice with your family.
- Skiing. Skiing is a fun activity for the whole family. But if you're an amateur skier, it's critical to be realistic about your abilities. Don't be afraid to take ski lessons to get the basics under your belt. A ski instructor not only gauges your skill level, but can also direct you to the slopes that are the best fit for your experience.
- Snowboarding. One of the newer Olympic sports on the circuit, snowboarding was first included at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. But since its introduction, snowboarding has become one of the most popular sports in the Games — and for winter recreation among nonathletes.
No matter which winter sports you choose, make sure you have appropriate equipment that fits. Winter sports gear can get pricey, but try secondhand stores or even rent equipment for weekend use. Just make sure to ask the experts for advice on things like length of skis, boots, bindings, figure skates or hockey skates. Most importantly, make sure to always wear a helmet for activities such as skiing and snowboarding (kids should wear helmets when ice skating too!).
Cold-Weather Sports Caveats
Winter sports can be engaging for everyone, no matter what their age or skill level. You can use the Olympics as inspiration or try one of the many non-Olympic sports that get your heart pumping during colder months. A few favorites:
► Sledding. Tubing and sledding require you to climb up the hill in order to ride your way down. Toboggan runs and sledding hills are a great way to enjoy local parks during the wintertime — and they're fun for the whole family.
► Snowshoeing. Like walking on sand, snowshoeing requires you to navigate uneven surfaces, which helps strengthen your leg and glute muscles.
► Hiking. If the weather is on the mild side, don't be afraid to get outdoors and explore. With newer materials and textiles, it's easier than ever to dress warmly and remove layers as you work your way up a hill or mountain.Whatever winter activity you choose, keep in mind you’re not competing in the Olympics. If you’ve been mostly sedentary, it's important to start slow. Gradually increase your activity level and be sure to wear appropriate safety gear.
To find a primary care or sports medicine specialist at Henry Ford, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-436-7936.