Three months ago, Ron Courson, the UGA Athletic Association’s Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, agreed to give a speech on sudden cardiac arrest at the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association’s conference this weekend in Charlotte, N.C.

Ron Courson

Little did Courson know, his procedures would be enacted less than 72 hours prior to his presentation.

Thursday afternoon, Courson and the UGA Sports Medicine staff were pressed into action when Al Schmidt, the director of track and field for Mississippi State, collapsed during the first day of the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Spec Towns Track.

“He was on the infield and sustained a cardiac arrest,” Courson said. “The response from our track and field medical staff was outstanding. David Chandler, our track and field athletic trainer, was immediately there and recognized sudden cardiac arrest. He and Dr. Don Lazas, the father of an Arkansas decathlete, quickly started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We were fortunate Dr. Lazas was there and are extremely thankful for his assistance. We were able to use the automated external defibrillator
we had on site and successfully resuscitate him.”

“I can guarantee that response went above and beyond,” said Georgia track and field head coach Wayne Norton. “Not only were they quick, but they knew what to do.”

Schmidt was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center where his condition is stable.

“The hospital did a tremendous job,” Courson said. “They reached out to the Mississippi State family and provided them with a private waiting room. They also made available an on-campus residence for his wife when she arrived, which we knew would be in the middle of the night.”

While Courson prides himself on emergency preparedness, even he finds the timing of Thursday’s incident occurring so close to his presentation ironic.

“It’s ironic in a lot of ways,” Courson said. “Four of our athletic training students and one of our graduate athletic trainers were here working the meet and all of them had just finished last week an emergency care class that I teach. One thing that we talk about in that class is that you never know when an emergency will happen. It can happen at any time. Sometimes you think about emergencies happening in high-collision sports like football or hockey or lacrosse but an emergency can truly happen at any time.

Courson already has experienced positive feedback from Thursday’s efforts.

“It was an example of when bad things happen, good things can come out of it,” Courson said. “Having everyone and everything in the right place at the right time helped save a life. I’ve already had a call from someone with the Athens Little League today asking how we can help them make sure they have defibrillators on site as well as develop an emergency action plan.”