BJ Thompson cardiac arrest: Chiefs practiced their emergency response plan on MONDAY – three days before the player fell ill at a team meeting

On the final day of OTAs, the Kansas City Chiefs had some positive news on BJ Thompson following his medical emergency on Thursday.

But if there was ever a time when such a horrific event could occur, it was at a time when the Chiefs had recently drilled into their staff the proper emergency procedure in the event of such an incident.

Following an NFL mandate, the Chiefs practiced their emergency action plan for medical personnel on Monday. This was done with a company called Sports Medicine Emergency Management, which helped the team’s trainers practice scenarios like Thompson’s attack.

According to the team, every medical trainer and the team doctor assisted in trying to keep Thompson alive.

“We tried to stabilize BJ and then put him on the ground while he was still strapped in, and then he went into cardiac arrest,” Burkholder said. “Our team from that group of people gave him CPR. He got one AED shock and came back, so he was probably only in cardiac arrest for less than a minute and a half.

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid: ‘If it had to happen, no better place than here’

“Our players, our security staff, all the coaches involved, they were phenomenal in handling the crisis. We then hand him over to the fire brigade and ambulance personnel. Those paramedics do those practice sessions with us, so there was some familiarity with those guys.”

Head coach Andy Reid says he was there throughout the process and let the professionals do their job.

‘That’s a difficult situation. We’ve been through a few in my time and it’s never fun,” Reid said. ‘Thank God. I mean, if it had to happen, there’s no better place than here, where you’ve got a support unit that knows what to do.”

The Chiefs were kept informed of Thompson’s condition throughout the process.

Safety Justin Reid was at the meeting where the incident occurred and praised the coaches and medical staff.

“Credit to our training room and that sense of urgency and the speed at which they can come in and be quick for BJ,” Reid said.

“It’s just phenomenal news that we got that he’s doing better and he’s stable today. It’s really an honor for our staff that they are working on it. And we’re so lucky to have them here to take care of him, to make sure he’s okay.”

Reid also saw kicker Harrison Butker take action to leave the meeting and alert the trainers.

Thompson’s agent and the team both say the defense is now awake and alert

“Harrison is that guy. I mean, he loves all of us. And you know, we’re a family. This goes so much deeper than just football. We support each other, and at times like this you just have to push yourself into action. Harrison did so and the trainers acted so quickly to save BJ and helped make this possible. ‘

“I’m just glad to see him doing well,” defensive end George Karlaftis said. ‘If you put a man through that, you know, you never want that for anyone else.

“It’s hard, but I will say this: We are blessed to have such great teammates and athletic trainers who helped him and were able and ready for that situation. I hope and pray for a speedy recovery for BJ.”

The Chiefs canceled their practice after the incident. His condition stabilized at the hospital and both the team and Thompson’s officer said he was awake and alert on Friday.