Teenager Saved by CPR-Trained Coaches After Collapsing During Basketball Tryouts

Teenager's Cardiac Arrest and Rescue

• 💔 Franchesco Alaka, a senior at Locust Valley High School, collapsed during a basketball tryout on November 17th due to cardiac arrest.
• 👏 Coaches and school staff immediately administered CPR and used an AED to revive him before local EMS arrived.

Gratitude and Miraculous Recovery

• 🙏 Alaka expressed profound gratitude to his coaches and staff, stating, "without you guys, I wouldn't be here."
• ✨ His mother described his survival as a "miracle," relieved to see him alive after hearing about his cardiac arrest.
• 🏥 Alaka was initially rushed to Glen Cove Hospital and later transferred to Cohen Children's Medical Center, having already regained a pulse by the time he reached the first hospital.

Community and Safety Initiatives

• 🏅 The coaches and staff were honored for their quick and effective actions, highlighting the importance of their life-saving training.
• 📈 School leaders are committed to enhancing safety by installing more AEDs in elementary schools and upgrading communication systems like walkie-talkies for instant response.
• 🚑 The American Heart Association emphasizes that AEDs should be used within 3 to 5 minutes of a collapse, underscoring the critical role of immediate intervention.

Looking Ahead

• 🏀 Despite the incident, Alaka is already looking forward to returning to the basketball court.