Poplar Bluff football player collapses during exercise drill

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff High School sophomore is in stable condition after collapsing during Monday's football practice.

Superintendent Chris Hon said the student was running a drill in the first half-hour of practice when coaches noticed the student starting to stumble. Officials were not releasing the boy's name at press time.

Athletic trainer Heath Willis went to the student and soon told head coach Mark Barousse to call for an ambulance. The student stopped breathing and did not have a pulse, Hon said, and Willis and assistant coach Jay Dowd administered CPR.

Paramedics arrived, the student was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and later air-lifted to an unspecified hospital. Hon said the student was stable and breathing on his own within a few hours of being taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

"While we hope to never have to utilize our CPR training and draw on our athletic trainer in this manner, the safety of all of our students is paramount, so we are prepared to respond appropriately should such an unfortunate incident occur," Hon said. "We are thankful for the reaction from our medical professional and coaches, the quick response from the ambulance, and perhaps a little help from above. We will continue to pray for the best outcome regarding our student athlete today."

Hon said he does not know why the student collapsed; he did not think heat was a factor.

Monday's temperatures were in the mid-70s when the first practice of the season started at 8 a.m. The players had just finished with their warm-ups and the student was running a passing drill.

Hon said coaches were following new MSHSAA acclimation period rules.

For the first five days of practice for all outdoor sports, only one practice for three hours is permitted. After an hourlong break, coaches may have a walk-through or a film session with the team.

Helmets are the only equipment permitted to be worn during the first two days of football practice. Shoulder pads may be added during the next three days and players may wear full pads on day six.

After that, the time limit is lifted and two-a-day practices are allowed as long as they do not happen on consecutive days.

Hon said all Poplar Bluff athletes recently had completed their physicals and coaches underwent their annual CPR training with a health coordinator for the district, Sheryl Talkington, who is a registered nurse.