What began as a regular Friday at Colorado Mesa University turned into a life-saving mission when graduate student Jorja Cooper and Athletic Trainer and Instructor McLain Whitney responded to an emergency on the university’s tennis courts.
Whitney was preparing for a baseball scrimmage while Cooper, a student in the Master in Athletic Training (MSAT) program, was getting ready to work at the men’s soccer practice. The day took a turn when members of the community, who regularly play tennis on the courts, rushed into the athletic training room seeking help for a man who had collapsed unconscious on the court and sustained a head injury.
Whitney and Cooper hurried to the scene. By the time they reached the courts, a bystander had already started CPR. One of the players asked if anyone had an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and Whitney immediately ran inside to grab one. CMU has several publicly available AEDs across campus, and one was readily available on a cart set aside for soccer practice. While Whitney grabbed the AED, Cooper assessed the situation.
“I assessed his airway, breathing and circulation and recognized that he didn’t have any of those,” Cooper said. “When McLain came out with the AED, I knew it needed to be used immediately.”
The device delivered a shock, restoring the man’s pulse. Shortly after, staff from the Student Wellness Center, police officers and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel arrived to transport him to the hospital. Both Cooper and Whitney acknowledged that the collective efforts of everyone involved, including bystanders and other responders, were crucial to the outcome.
“My kudos go to the people that got a hold of us. They knew where to find us, started CPR and called 911,” Whitney said. “Every moment counts.”
The situation represented the importance of the “cardiac chain of survival,” a concept Whitney often teaches in his Acute Emergency Care course, which Cooper recently completed.
“There are five links: recognition and activation of EMS, immediate CPR, defibrillation, EMS care and post-hospital care. Every single one is just as important as the other,” Whitney emphasized.
Cooper reflected on the significance of her training and the unique experience of working alongside her instructor during the emergency.
"Going through something like that with him after he had trained me was something I really appreciated,” she said.
Whitney’s pride in Cooper was evident.
“Seeing a student actually utilize what you’ve taught in a real-world scenario — it made me extremely proud,” he said. “The composure she had and the efficiency she worked with was really impressive.”
The duo’s actions are a testament to the practical application of their skills and serve as a reminder of the importance of emergency training. Whitney encouraged everyone to get certified.
“You’re going to be a lot better off knowing and having these skills than getting into a situation where you don’t know what to do,” he said. Cooper echoed this, stressing the importance of knowing where to find AEDs.
“It’s vital for everyone to be aware of their closest AED in case an emergency arises.”
The individual who experienced the emergency is reportedly doing well in recovery, thanks to the quick response by Cooper, Whitney and the community members present that day.