OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — When Olathe East Senior Linebacker James McGinnis collapsed on the football field Friday, people in the stands were upset, saying it took the ambulance too long to arrive.
McGinnis’ family says the 18-year-old is making small improvements, although he remains in critical but stable condition, while being treated for a brain injury at Overland Park Regional Hospital.
Monday night the Chief Paramedic at Johnson County Med-Act set the record straight about the care the high school senior received on the field. They say when McGinnis collapsed on the field he received immediate medical care by a Johnson County Med-Act paramedic who was on-site.
“Many people probably didn’t recognize that there is a paramedic on the sidelines and immediately went to the patient. People probably thought they were just part of the training crew,” said Ted McFarlane with Johnson County Med-Act.
McFarlane, the Chief Paramedic at Johnson County Med-Act says a paramedic is on standby at all Olathe varsity high school football games, they’re just not equipped with an ambulance. He says a paramedic was at McGinnis’ side minutes after the high school trainers realized his condition was serious.
“As soon as our paramedic saw the patient he immediately asked for an ambulance to come to the scene and that took about six minutes,” said McFarlane.
McFarlane says Olathe East High School trainers removed McGinnis’ pads and helmet to speed up his care while an ambulance was enroute to take him to the hospital.
McFarlane says in an emergency times goes slowly so he says the four minutes paramedics were on the scene may have appeared longer to people in the stands.
“They’re worried about their friend and teammate and they want to stay positive,” said Olathe Assistant School Superintendent Erin Dugan.
Dugan applauds paramedics for getting McGinnis the immediate medical care he needed.
“The family has shared with us that James continues to show small and positive signs of improvement and that’s making all of us feel better and we are sharing all of that information with students,” she said.
Dugan says students are showing their support for James by making ‘Pray for James’ signs at school and having his classmates sign it. Students have also blocked McGinnis’ parking spot at school so no one can use it.
Students are also sending their prayers and showing their support for James McGinnis by using the #PrayFor James and #OlatheFamily.
