Coaching high school basketball requires a particular skillset. Not everything is under the job description.
"You're dealing with young kids that you're trying to help teach how the world works through athletics, and that's fun and difficult at the same time," said Locust Valley High School head basketball coach Andrew Siegel.
It's difficult when the game is on the line, but there's no skill more valuable than knowing what to do when life is on the line... the life of someone else's child.
"We quickly realized that something was definitely not right, and my coaches sprung into action," Siegel said.
Minutes into practice at Locust Valley High School on Monday, the obligation for coaches quickly turned from drawing up a clutch play, to administering life-saving aid when one of their players collapsed.
"We started CPR and then we switched off on CPR," said assistant coach Brian Lorusso. "I went to go try to find the AED and then we attached the AED to the student."
The defibrillator was already attached to the student by the time Scott Sila, the paramedic, arrived.
"To walk into a pediatric cardiac arrest and have the patient talking to us within two minutes of being on scene -- in my career it's never happened before," Sila said.
He was ready to intubate the young man on the court, but realized the coaches had already taken charge.
"They kept his blood circulating, which means his brain was oxygenated, his organs were oxygenated," Sila said.
The frightening episode prompted the school to order seven additional AED's (automated external defibrillators). They want to strategically place them in areas of the school where there are none so that the right tools are in place for an emergency.
"We even provide that training to our students. So, we even go a little bit above and beyond," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kristin Turnow.
In New York State, all coaches must be trained in CPR and know how to use an AED.
"This was the first time I had to, and I hope it's the last time," Lorusso said. "But in New York State as coaches, we go through rigorous training with it, and this is the reason why. It saves lives."
The team may be missing one of its players for a while, but they didn't lose their friend.
"That was one of the first questions he asked one of the coaches. 'When can I play again?'" Siegel said.
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