Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs outstanding efforts, Defensive Lineman, BJ Thompson is awake and alert after a life-threatening medical emergency on June 6, 2024.
What happened to this young Defensive Lineman? And what actions did the team take to help save him?
BJ Thompson and the Chiefs Outstanding Efforts
It was Harrison Butker who first jumped into action when teammate and defensive lineman BJ Thompson suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest last Thursday. Butker alerted the medical staff and due to outstanding efforts Thompson was brought back with the use of CPR and one AED shock. All of this was administered by the medical staff according to foxnews.com.
The Chiefs outstanding efforts and call to action were praised by Vice President Rick Burkholder.
“Our players, our security staff, everybody involved, coaches and staff, they were phenomenal in handling the crisis.” The NFL “mandates teams practice their emergency action plans multiple times a year, and the Chiefs just happened to conduct an exercise on Monday.”
Chiefs Outstanding Efforts Part Of The EAP Action Plan
The NFL mandates all leagues must have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
“All club athletic trainers and physicians are trained in how to recognize, respond to, and treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in players, ensuring clubs are prepared to react quickly. The training ensures all staff know how to initiate CPR, use the automated external defibrillator (AED), and know where the device is located, along with providing a protocol for calling 911. This ensures the medical team can react quickly if a player exhibits signs of SCA and can initiate immediate treatment until EMS arrives”.
For Thompson, the timing of the Chiefs EAP training proved to be perfect. The team conducted a training on Monday just a few days before Thompson’s medical emergency.
ESPN dove deep into six athletes who suffered cardiac arrest between 2020 and 2023 and some possible causes. For this article, ESPN interviewed four cardiologists who offered insight into potential causes of heart health concerns and explained the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest.
Thompson experienced cardiac arrest, not a heart attack. His heart was beating one minute and stopped beating the next. Thanks to the Chiefs outstanding efforts including those of the medical staff who used an AED to shock Thompson’s heart into beating, he is alive and improving.
Second-Year Defensive Lineman’s Outlook
Thompson is reported to be alert and responsive. He was briefly on a ventilator. The ventilator was removed Friday morning and Thompson is reported as doing “quite well” according to a statement made by Burkholder.
Thompson is in his second season with the Chiefs after being drafted in 2023 as a fifth round pick. Thompson played in one game last season against the Los Angeles Chargers and had two solo tackles. The Chiefs won that game 13-12.
Thompson has the full support of his team for a complete recovery and expressed gratitude for the Chiefs outstanding efforts to save his life. It seems the Chiefs outstanding efforts reach beyond concurring plays on the field and embrace flawless action plans in the event of a medical emergency.
About the Author
Lori was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She was in Jacksonville when the Jaguars became the 30th NFL Franchise. Her son began playing football in middle school and continued playing through his senior year of high school. Lori’s daughter was born during a Super Bowl game. She and her family are avid sports enthusiasts.
Lori is a freelance writer with Total Apex Sports and is dedicated to creating interesting, accurate, and concise articles. Lori reports that writing for Total Apex Sports is an honor, and each day is full of exciting experiences.
Lori has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis on Project Management and has written technical documents for more than a decade.
You may contact Lori by email at lori@loriratto.com. Visit www.loriratto.com and follow me on X lorirattolori
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