Student-athlete who survived cardiac arrest, local lawmaker push to get AEDs at all athletic fields
High-profile cardiac arrests, like Damar Hamlin's, have really brought the importance of life-saving skills to the spotlight.
The average person has the capability of saving a life with CPR and an AED, as long as one is near. There's a renewed push to make sure they're on every athletic field that kids in Pennsylvania play on.
Spencer Davis is alive because there was an AED on his field in Hollidaysburg, about 2 hours east of Pittsburgh. He plays football for Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School.
'It was my best game,' recalled the sophomore. He rolled into the next practice a few days later last September and 'I took a hit over my chest, over my heart during a punt drill.'
Spencer's life changed in an instant.
That blow hit at the exact moment to throw his heart out of rhythm and into cardiac arrest.
'When I got there, I went right to his head and was like 'Spence, I'm here, hang on,'' Jennifer Davis, Spencer's mom, said.
She says his coaches started CPR but it was the AED that she and her son agree saved his life.
The athletic trainer in the Hollidaysburg Area School District had a portable AED on her cart and got there within the three-minute window recommended to save Spencer.
But Spencer is in the minority.
The American Heart Association says AEDs are used only 10% of the time when a cardiac arrest happens outside a hospital.
Immediate CPR and an AED can double or triple the survival rate.
Pennsylvania doesn't have any requirements for AEDs to be present on sports fields or games.
But state Representative Tim Brennan is trying to change that. He's introduced a bill, for the second session in a row, to put AEDs at all interscholastic sporting events.
'To save a human life is worth the cost of preparation and this is a bill that will save lives,' said Rep. Brennan, (D) Bucks County.
The average cost of an AED is $1,000-$3,000.
But Representative Brennan says the state may be able to get school districts a better rate, the Hearts Act can give schools money for AEDs, and there are groups that raise funds to help cover the cost of them.
Representative Brennan's AED bill is in the education committee of the PA House.
After he was well enough to leave UPMC Children's Hospital, Spencer was diagnosed with commotio cordis, the same rare heart event that Damar Hamlin had.
'He was doing it,' said Spencer. 'He was living life and doing everything he wanted to.'
The two heart patients met at Damar's annual toy drive in December.
Inspired by Hamlin, Spencer said 'I wanted to make a change. I wanted to help others.'
Spencer and his family have now made it their mission to educate people about the importance of CPR and especially AEDs. His newly formed foundation in his name aims to raise money to help groups pay for AEDs. Here's a link to it: https://thespencerdavisfoundation.org/
'We're very fortunate that she (the athletic trainer) had that AED on her cart. Had she had to go unlock the building, Spencer's outcome could have been a lot different,' said mom, Jennifer.
'Spencer was saved by non-medical professionals,' said dad, David Davis. 'Go out and get trained. Go out and learn how to use an AED.'
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
State looks to tackle heart issues in schools
Photo illustration by Getty Images. Seconds count when it comes to matters of the heart, an issue state legislators are trying to tackle in schools. Signed into law last month, House Bill 869 mandates all public and private schools have a cardiac response plan in case of an emergency. Additionally, it puts $240,000 in state money toward training coaches, school staff and parents to spot the signs of cardiac emergencies as well. The funds can be used to purchase automatic external defibrillators. During the bill's House hearing, Jackie Semmens, a lobbyist with the American Heart Association, said the survival rate of a serious cardiac arrest event generally is about 10%. However, if a person gets a shock within the first minute of the heart stopping, the survival rate is 90%, she said. There's about 23,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in children each year, she added. 'Additionally, our schools are community gathering centers, and having the AED present at athletic events can not only save a child's life, but it can save the life of anyone at the event, parents, teachers, grandparents,' Semmens said. 'In our rural schools, having this equipment available is especially important as the time for first responders to arrive on scene may be significant.' Rep. Melissa Romano, a Helena Democrat who brought the legislation, said that of 590 school buildings in Montana, there were about 175 registered AEDs. There likely are more AEDs than that, but still a shortfall. Romano said the idea goes back to a conference she attended in Kentucky. She brought the idea back, mulled it over and worked with the Montana High School Association to craft something that could work for everyone. She has kids involved in sports, too. 'As a parent, you know, the more you learn about sudden cardiac arrest, it's like, 'Oh goodness, this is actually something that we could help prevent,' Romano said. 'If we just have the right equipment in the right places.' Serious cardiac events for children are rare, but the training also means if coaches have problems the equipment is already there. But it has happened in Montana, including a tragedy last year when a high schooler at soccer practice in Kalispell was sent to the intensive care unit after a lightning strike. An AED was used on scene. More than 10 years ago, Columbia Falls athletic director and athletic trainer Troy Bowman saw this first hand. A child collapsed, Bowman and a nurse began CPR and had another teacher retrieve an AED device, which they used with success. 'Later that evening, we were able to visit with him and his family and the young man, he was a freshman at the time, graduated, was able to play golf,' Bowman said during a House hearing for the bill. 'He had an undiagnosed heart condition, which led to his collapse.' Brian Michelotti, the executive director of the MHSA, said the organization's sports medicine's advisory committee has been at work on the issue of cardiac issues in student athletes. In fact, the group had a meeting shortly after Damar Hamlin, a player for the Buffalo Bills, whose heart stopped during an NFL game after he was hit during a play. Hamlin was immediately treated on the field and was able to return to play professional football. 'It was kind of the trigger that really put our sports medicine committee in full gear to make sure that we were doing stuff with AED training and emergency action planning,' Michelotti said. Many schools already have a plan in place. Anaconda Athletic director and basketball coach Dakota Norris said they have a cardiac emergency plan, which has also been the case at previous jobs, he added. Butte Central boys basketball coach Brodie Kelly has had players with heart issues before and he saw the legislation as a good thing. There's many types of injuries coaches have to deal with, Kelly said. 'My thought, is that as coaches, we're in position where these kids could be dealing with any of those issues, and the more educated we are, the more prepared to deal with it, the better,' Kelly said. Additionally, the legislation also extends to middle schools, which haven't been under the same stipulations as high schools. The MHSA has no authority over middle schools, Michelotti said, but they were happy to implement this bill to help them.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Fox Sports
Brennan's 3 hits, 2 RBIs help UCLA beat UTSA 7-0 and win super regional, clinch berth in CWS
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Payton Brennan had three hits, two RBIs and scored two runs on Sunday and UCLA beat UTSA 7-0 to win the Los Angeles Super Regional and advance to the College World Series. UCLA won its first super regional title since 2013 when the Bruins claimed the program's only national championship. The No. 15 seed Bruins (46-16) advance to the College World Series and play the winner between Duke and Murray State in the CWS. Brennan hit a two-out double and Toussaint Bythewood followed with an RBI single off starter Conor Myles (5-2) to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Phoenix Call led off the fifth with a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dean West before Roch Cholowsky drove in Call with a single to left field that made it 2-0. UCLA starter Brandon Stump hit Andrew Stucky with a pitch to lead off the fifth and was replaced by Chris Grothues (4-1), who got Norris McClure to ground into a 6-3 double play — the Bruins 63rd of the season, the most in the nation — before Mason Lytle struck out looking to end the inning. Grothues, Cal Randall, August Souza and Easton Hawk combined for five no-hit innings of relief for the Bruins. The Bruins added two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, including Brennan's two-run single. Umpire Eric Goshay was hit on the chin with a foul ball off the bat of Cholowsky in the seventh inning and left the field in the eighth. Second base umpire Travis Carlson moved behind the plate to accommodate for a three-man officiating crew. UTSA (47-15) saw its historic season, including a new program single-season wins record, come to a close. The Roadrunners beat Kansas State in their opener at the Austin Regional for UTSA's first postseason win and then beat No. 2 national seed Texas twice to claim the program's first-ever regional title. ___ AP college sports: recommended in this topic
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Brennan's 3 hits, 2 RBIs help UCLA beat UTSA 7-0 and win super regional, clinch berth in CWS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Payton Brennan had three hits, two RBIs and scored two runs on Sunday and UCLA beat UTSA 7-0 to win the Los Angeles Super Regional and advance to the College World Series. UCLA won its first super regional title since 2013 when the Bruins claimed the program's only national championship. Advertisement The No. 15 seed Bruins (46-16) advance to the College World Series and play the winner between Duke and Murray State in the CWS. Brennan hit a two-out double and Toussaint Bythewood followed with an RBI single off starter Conor Myles (5-2) to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Phoenix Call led off the fifth with a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dean West before Roch Cholowsky drove in Call with a single to left field that made it 2-0. UCLA starter Brandon Stump hit Andrew Stucky with a pitch to lead off the fifth and was replaced by Chris Grothues (4-1), who got Norris McClure to ground into a 6-3 double play — the Bruins 63rd of the season, the most in the nation — before Mason Lytle struck out looking to end the inning. Grothues, Cal Randall, August Souza and Easton Hawk combined for five no-hit innings of relief for the Bruins. Advertisement The Bruins added two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, including Brennan's two-run single. Umpire Eric Goshay was hit on the chin with a foul ball off the bat of Cholowsky in the seventh inning and left the field in the eighth. Second base umpire Travis Carlson moved behind the plate to accommodate for a three-man officiating crew. UTSA (47-15) saw its historic season, including a new program single-season wins record, come to a close. The Roadrunners beat Kansas State in their opener at the Austin Regional for UTSA's first postseason win and then beat No. 2 national seed Texas twice to claim the program's first-ever regional title. ___ AP college sports:
