Middle school player dies during game

[a4caster]

This reminds me of a related incident in my FIRST varsity game ever. I'm doing a great game, making some killer calls, the game is getting close with the visiting underdog making a comeback. All of a sudden, the visitor's get a steal, player is going to the hoop, defender comes in. The ball handler stops, defender jumps and momentum carries him towards the ball. The handler bends over to absorb the impact, the defender flips over the player and lands on his shoulder and head. BAM!!! Did I mention I am "five" feet away from him when it happens? Anyway, he goes into a seizure, and the place is crazy. One of his teammates is almost crying, and I try to console and direct him away from the player. He finally stops seizing, and maintains breathing, but it took 30 minutes for the ambulance because it was snowing like mad outside. He turned out ok, but they called the game, with good reason.
This really affected me, not so much that it traumatized me, but the fact that I didn't know what to do to help. I mean, we keep hands off, but when it is life and death, all rules are off. So, I got my first responder training, basically EMT without drugs, so that in the case that something MAJOR happens, like a heart attack or seizure, I can do something to help. Did you know that in the case of a seizure, the best thing to do is place your shoes under the patient's head? It keeps the head from striking the hard floor. Don't restrain him, just let him "seize out." And like I said, we see some good injuries in sports, especially football, and you really have to restrain yourself from helping out. But when it's life or death, I am grateful that I might just be able to save a life.