A Heartfelt Plea

By Mike Scinto

Columnist

 Appearing in the Kettering-Oakwood Times-Times Community Newspapers

Wes Leonard and Matthew Hammerdorfer can’t read this column. They are no longer with us. Had they, or their parents, coaches or friends addressed some of the points made in the following paragraphs, perhaps they would have been here to read it. Sixteen-year-old Leonard died of cardiac arrest after winning his Michigan high school basketball team’s big game. Two days later seventeen-year-old Hammerdorfer, of Fort Collins, Colorado met the same fate during a rugby match. Both deaths were attributed to cardiac arrest and enlarged hearts. Both were tragic losses of life before even reaching a fraction of their potential.

How many young athletes do we have to bury before we take relatively inexpensive but critical steps to stop this insanity?

One of the problems, in this cost-cutting state of denial in our schools, is that we believe “that happens to somebody else, not here”. Then it happens “here” and the scramble is on, the finger-pointing begins, the tears rush forth at the memorial service, a tournament is named in the player’s memory, the class graduates, the recollection of the event fades, the next season begins and it all starts over.

The experts I’ve heard comment suggest that anywhere from three student athletes per day to nine per week in America suffer a similar fate. For whatever reason; busy news day, happening in a very small community or an athletic department that doesn’t want the news to spread, we just don’t hear about many. When they come in pairs, just days apart, it makes the headlines. I was unable to corroborate those numbers absolutely, but I am comfortable with them because the figures I saw all floated in that range.

If the number is one, it’s too many! But how can we prevent it? Can it be stopped? Obviously there is no way to head off every sudden death by a young athlete. But there are steps that can be taken to cut the odds drastically.

To the person, every expert I have spoken with, listened to or read on this subject says there needs to be a cardiac defibrillator on the sidelines at every athletic event, gym class and practice; in every school. They are relatively cheap and as automatic as they can get. It wouldn’t hurt for the entire staff to be familiar with their operation and when to use them. I don’t really care where the money comes from, who has to pay for it or how the “suits” budget for it. Get them NOW! And get several, since there will be multiple activities going on some days at your school.

I also believe every athlete, instead of going through a cursory physical once-over, needs to have a chest x-ray, EKG and stress test every year. Again, there will be a cost. Many insurance companies will pay and some will not. There needs to be some form of athletic booster club to help defray those costs if necessary.

There’s power in numbers and the Internet is a fantastic tool! You need to sit down TODAY and find the email address of your state’s High School Athletic Association headquarters. Fire off an email, or if you don’t like to write, you have my permission to include this column. Tell the organization that enough is enough. You want the points I just outlined made mandatory compliance issues for all schools in the state and you want it done yesterday! Have your friends email as well and keep “re-sending” the emails until you get a response.

Email the athletic directors and superintendents in every district where you live, work, vacation or have loved ones attending. And keep those emails cycling.

Don’t allow them to lay numbers on you; “the actuarial tables say”, “statistics show” or “we’ve got the situation in hand”. It’s political hogwash! As a coach for 14 years, a parent of two fantastic teens, an uncle, friend and godparent, it’s time to be heard! Before updating to newer, more colorful uniforms, or buying some shiny new helmets, do what needs to be done. You don’t want the next scramble to be contacting you or a friend to announce that it really has happened “here”.

Special note: Please send me an email with any responses you receive back about this. I don’t want to let the ball drop. mikescintoshow@gmail.com