Things looked great for Matthew Nader. A high school football star, he was on top of the world, when suddenly during a high school football game, he collapsed out of nowhere and hit the ground. A ventricular fibrillation had brought Nader down.

Many people in this instance lose their lives, but Nader was lucky enough to survive. With the help of many at the game, including a cardiologist, Nader lives to this day. Another factor at play was an AED, which happened to be available at the game. This is probably the biggest factor of any.

It’s not just enough to have one in the school, they have to be put into places that are convenient to everyone so precious time isn’t wasted. The problem that could be holding back some schools from having defibrillators is the high cost. If a school were to have a defibrillator for every team, there may not be enough money to afford one of the teams.

However, we must not forget the necessity of having an AED because it could save a life. One of the greatest aspects of the AED is that there are step-by-step instructions, and you do not need to be trained. In 2002, New York became the first state to pass a law requiring schools to have at least one defibrillator. Former Governor George Pataki signed legislation for the law.

When Nadar returned to the sideline following a play, he asked his coach if he had blocked the right person. Seconds later he was down. His teammates were standing just a few feet away from Nadar. Teammate Dusty Davidson described Nadar as “The big guy on campus, he has an aura of invincibility, if Nadar can go down with this, anyone can go down with this”.

Nader was assisted by a cardiologist at the game, who happened to be there to see his son play. If not for this, the outcome may have been different, though the doctor puts all of the responsibility on the AED, saying it wouldn’t have been possible without the device.

Nader sought to play football after the incident, and was admitted to the University of Texas via a scholarship. Unfortunately, this medical condition prohibited him from playing more football, and he couldn’t pursue his dream of playing for the Longhorns. However, the University of Texas held firm in its commitment to give him a scholarship, despite the fact that he couldn’t play.

Today, Nader coaches football for the University of Texas team. He never takes a single day for granted, and still surrounds himself with the game he loves to play. Thanks to the AED, he’s able to do so.

For the best football articles on the Internet, visit the NFL forum at RootZoo Sports. Play NFL pickem every week of the season, and see if you can win the grand prize.

Related Blogs