AC graduate saves athlete’s life

Aug 20, 2020Featured, Featured Alumni

With the Michigan High School Athletic Association halting its spring sports season, athletic trainer Rebecca Neal, like everyone else, is looking forward to life returning to normal so she can get back to doing what she loves.

Only three days after starting an athletic trainer position at Columbia Central High School last summer in Brooklyn, Mich., Neal was put to the test in a big way. A student-athlete began complaining of cramps and a migraine headache during an August football practice and Neal recognized the symptoms as being life-threatening. Neal, a Waterford Twp. native, had just earned a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training in May at Adrian College and was hired by Henry Ford Allegiance health system two months later.

Neal provides all of the medical coverage at Columbia Central High School through Henry Ford Allegiance health system and is usually out on the practice fields or at a game after the final school bell rings. On day three of the high school’s evening football practice, she was extremely relieved to have had the quality training needed to handle a sudden life and death situation when treating a severely overheated athlete. The players were not in pads but did wear helmets, however, it had been a very hot and humid day in the Mitten.

“He was complaining that his arms and legs were tingling and his feet were going numb, and he said he had a migraine,” Neal said of the young athlete, explaining that he did not start practice with a headache. “That was an indicator for me, and he felt nauseous as well. There is a big push in the athletic training profession for treating heat exhaustion. To treat it you have to begin quickly. You have a half an hour to begin cooling the athlete.”

Columbia Central does not have a tub so Neal used the “taco method” where a tarp is held up and open by several people, and cool water and ice are dumped on the overheated athlete inside.

“EMS (Emergency Medical Services) was activated because I didn’t have a rectal thermometer,” Neal said. “The standard in athletic training, the only way to diagnose heat stroke is with a rectal thermometer, and there is a big push in the community right now, we’re trying to educate parents and athletes, because they get a little nervous when hearing that.”

She said other methods of taking temperature, from the forehead or armpit, are not as accurate.

“It doesn’t give you the true reading,” she said. “The one significant thing about heat exhaustion is you don’t transport right away. With any other emergency you want to transport. With this emergency you want to get their temperature down and then transport.”

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics arrived on scene and took over care of the athlete. Neal said Henry Ford Allegiance health system is currently trying to provide all of the athletic trainers working at its contracted high schools with upgraded thermometers.

Neal credits her heroic actions to having solid training for the situation.

“I’m thankful because the Adrian College athletic training program has such a strong emphasis on emergency medicine,” she said. “And through that, the situations they put us in we were always practicing our different skills. Two years ago, they created a mass-casualty simulation on the football field and I was a part of that as a senior.”

She was also thankful to have worked with the Madison Fire Department while studying for her master’s degree.

“We become certified and licensed EMTs in the state of Michigan. So, having that training as well is awesome that it’s built into the program, giving even more emphasis on emergency medicine,” Neal said.

As an athletic trainer, being in health care, for me this was just my job.

REBECCA NEAL

Come what may, Neal feels she can handle almost any life-or-death situation on the playing fields and courts. She just relies on instincts and puts her training into action, just like any other athletic trainer has been taught to do.

“I’m just thankful for what I was taught at Adrian College to be able to recognize those symptoms,” she said. “Because without recognizing those signs and symptoms, it could have been a different treatment, a different outcome. So, just that I was able to recognize and treat right away, I’m very thankful I’ve had that training so I was able to save his life.”

Dr. Tina Claiborne, Adrian College’s director of athletic training, is extremely proud of Neal and many other former students who have handled similar medical situations.

“We have had so many life-saving stories from our former students over the past few years,” Claiborne said. “This makes me feel so proud that we emphasize emergency medicine as much as we do.”

Suzanne Harmon, supervisor of sports medicine for Henry Ford Allegiance health system, thanked Claiborne for graduating such fine students.

“Our physicians and administration at Henry Ford Allegiance health system are very proud of her! I am so happy to have Becca as part of our team! Thank you for providing such an exceptional program that graduates students as high quality as Rebecca Neal! Keep up the good work,” Harmon said.

“As an athletic trainer, being in health care, for me this was just my job,” Neal said. “They always tell us we advocate for athletes. So, if an athlete needs me, I’m going to do whatever I can to help them.”

107 Comments

  1. Iki kız bir erkek sevişme sahnesi izle on August 2, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    Hledáte musashi katana? vám nabízí širokou nabídku produktů a jejich recenzí.
    Snadno si u nás také porovnáte cenu a dostupnost u řady prodejců.

    Reply
  2. How to stop vomiting from dicyclomine on August 4, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Hastane uygulamaların bitiminde öğrencilere
    veri toplama formu yüz Anahtar kelimeler: Hemşirelik öğrencileri,
    Mobil öğrenme, Mobil uygulama, Tutum.

    Reply
  3. milf çıplak japan juicy on September 15, 2022 at 9:20 am

    Nejnovější tweety od uživatele sikisi (@sikisi_sinno).

    1st album 「from kasiwa」発売中。.

    Reply
  69. Larryimmah on January 24, 2023 at 8:23 am

    [url=https://over-the-counter-drug.com/#]best over-the-counter medicine for sinus infection[/url] arthritis medicine for dogs over the counter

    Reply
  72. Larryimmah on January 25, 2023 at 7:12 am

    [url=https://over-the-counter-drug.com/#]over the counter yeast infection[/url] best over the counter gas and bloating medicine

    Reply
  74. Larryimmah on January 26, 2023 at 1:18 pm

    [url=https://over-the-counter-drug.com/#]over the counter eczema cream[/url] strongest over the counter painkillers

    Reply
  75. Oglajr on January 26, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    buy ceftin 250mg without prescription robaxin uk robaxin uk

    Reply
  77. Larryimmah on January 27, 2023 at 11:30 am

    [url=https://over-the-counter-drug.com/#]strongest over the counter sleep aid[/url] over the counter viagra

    Reply
  83. takipçi satın al on January 29, 2023 at 1:26 pm

    Thanks for sharing such a pleasant idea, piece of writing
    is nice, thats why i have read it entirely

    Reply
  87. JamesBralk on February 2, 2023 at 4:08 am

    Read information now. safe and effective drugs are available.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin 10 mg[/url]
    All trends of medicament. Drugs information sheet.

    Reply
  89. JesseWhimb on February 2, 2023 at 11:18 am

    Read now. п»їMedicament prescribing information.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin cream uk[/url]
    Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Drugs information sheet.

    Reply
  90. RonaldCibre on February 2, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    Drug information. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
    ivermectin 1 cream 45gm
    Actual trends of drug. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.

    Reply
  91. JamesBralk on February 2, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Read information now.
    https://stromectolst.com/# cost of ivermectin
    Top 100 Searched Drugs. drug information and news for professionals and consumers.

    Reply
  92. Zacharyfourb on February 3, 2023 at 6:02 am

    Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions.
    https://stromectolst.com/# buy stromectol pills
    Everything information about medication. What side effects can this medication cause?

    Reply
  93. RonaldCibre on February 3, 2023 at 1:55 pm

    Drugs information sheet. Generic Name.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin pills human[/url]
    Get here. Top 100 Searched Drugs.

    Reply
  96. JesseWhimb on February 5, 2023 at 10:42 am

    п»їMedicament prescribing information. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
    ivermectin online
    Cautions. Best and news about drug.

    Reply
  97. RonaldCibre on February 5, 2023 at 2:03 pm

    Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Top 100 Searched Drugs.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin cream 5%[/url]
    Generic Name. Get warning information here.

    Reply
  98. Zacharyfourb on February 5, 2023 at 9:15 pm

    Get warning information here. What side effects can this medication cause?
    stromectol drug
    п»їMedicament prescribing information. Best and news about drug.

    Reply
  99. Leena Smith on February 6, 2023 at 12:51 pm

    Social media is an essential part of modern-day marketing and WordPress provides a wide range of plugins to help you share your content across various platforms. This list of Top 10 WordPress social sharing plugins for 2023 showcases some of the best options available, each with its own unique features and benefits. Whether you’re looking for a plugin with a simple and easy-to-use interface or one with more advanced features like click-to-tweet and share count recovery, there is something for everyone in this list. Take the time to review each option and choose the one that best fits your specific needs. With the right social sharing plugin, you can increase engagement, reach, and conversions on your site

    Reply
  100. RonaldCibre on February 6, 2023 at 6:44 pm

    Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Read information now.
    https://stromectolst.com/# ivermectin brand name
    drug information and news for professionals and consumers. п»їMedicament prescribing information.

    Reply
  102. okbet casino philippines on February 14, 2023 at 9:36 pm

    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon! My site: okbet casino philippines

    Reply
  103. OKBET on March 1, 2023 at 10:13 pm

    Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups thank you once again.

    my home page : okbet mobile app

    Reply
  104. Jonathan Naylor on March 28, 2023 at 12:42 am

    This is really inspiring and shows that the AC graduate knows the best values for humanity. I with my all colleagues working at a British dissertation writing service, would like to solute her for the act she did.

    Reply
  105. online poker on June 29, 2023 at 12:24 am

    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

    My site: online poker collusion

    Reply
  106. Jinny on August 10, 2023 at 2:35 am

    Safe football betting must only be at UFABET. It is the most suitable choice for bettors right now. make money for players as well Football betting with very high returns must be at the ufa.bar website, suitable for premium football betting, supporting players of all levels.

    Reply
  107. Thelma McKoy on November 7, 2023 at 6:29 am

    This profession is also quite good because very few people go into this field so I appreciate it and I am also giving a tip to look good wearing this Goku Drip Puffer Jacket.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.