Wichita Falls, Texas – The American Red Cross serving Texas Big Country and North Texas Region presented Wichita Falls High School Coaches Joshua Burris, Garrett Evans, Grant Freeman and Ryan Quezada with Lifesaving Awards for Professional Responders in a virtual ceremony on Monday, April 19 for using their lifesaving skills to help sustain the life of a young man on campus.
On September 7, 2020, the Wichita Falls varsity football team was lifting weights at the high school. After completing their first lift, one of the gentlemen began walking toward the weight rack and collapsed to the ground. Coach Grant Freeman responded and rolled the gentleman over. He began calling his name and started to conduct an assessment. Coach Freeman instructed Coach Ryan Quezada to call 9-1-1. He also advised Coach Garrett Evans to alert Joshua Burris, and Jeremy Gantt to help clear the weight room.
Joshua Burris arrived to find the gentleman flat on the floor and unresponsive to any stimuli. Joshua conducted an assessment. Coach Jeremy Gantt was told to get the AED out of the athletic training room. Joshua started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He began to administer chest compressions. After several cycles of CPR the AED was setup. The AED analyzed and advised a shock was needed. Coach Freeman administered the shock.
Another assessment was conducted, and Joshua resumed chest compressions. After several more cycles, the gentleman began to respond. Joshua placed the gentleman into the recovery position. Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly afterward and resumed providing care. Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Training Services course helped to save the life of this gentleman.
Coach Freeman shared, “we were just doing our jobs, and we are grateful for the training.”
The Lifesaving Award for a Professional Responder is given by the American Red Cross to individuals who save or sustain a life using skills they learned in an American Red Cross Training Services Course.
Red Cross training gives people the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and save a life. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills sessions), and classroom courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.
If you or someone you know has used skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain the life of another individual, visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.
