Eighth-grader recovering after being airlifted to hospital during middle school football game
An eighth grade student at Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter is at home recovering Wednesday morning after he was airlifted to the University of Michigan Health System Tuesday night during a football game in Chelsea.
The student was injured on the field about 7 p.m. Tuesday during a football game between Mill Creek Middle School and Chelsea Middle School, said Chelsea Area Fire Chief Jim Payeur.
University of Michigan Survival Flight crews air lifted the student to the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor Tuesday night.
The student is fine and recovering at home after suffering a concussion, said Jami Bronson, principal of Mill Creek.
“We’re thankful for the immediate quick response of both Chelsea officials and the immediate first responders,” Bronson said.
Update 4:03 p.m.: "The young man's parents could not say enough positive things about the staff at Chelsea and how they handled the situation and they are extremely grateful," according to an emailed statement from Ken Koenig, assistant principal at Dexter High School and the eighth grade football coach.
School officials declined to release further information.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
chapmaja
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
My comments are both regarding the topic and regarding the comments. First, I hope this young man makes a full and complete recovery. Second, and related to the comments posted by others. There can be multiple reasons to airlift a patient to the hospital instead of transport via ground even when the distance is similar. Before I get to those, there is something that needs to be said. I'm and 99.9% positive there was some medical personal on site when this injury occurred. It is very rare to not have some level (usually EMT trained individuals) onsite for a football game these days. I suspect what happened was not a case of "scared parents and coaches", but a case where someone with at least some medical knowledge knew the situation and based on the situation the information that this could be a serious head injury was passed along. The decision to airlift isn't made by onground personel at the incident site alone, it is also made by medical personel at the medical facilities, and the local law enforcement officials. One more thing to consider. People have mentioned it is a 16 mile drive from the field to the hospital. That's great, but if there is a traffic backup on I-94, that trip becomes much longer than the trip via medical helecopter. This is not the first time an athlete has been airlifted from a local sporting event to UofM. At the track and field regional in Saline several (maybe 2005 or 2006), an athlete from Romulus was comepting on the 400 relay team. Something went terribly wrong on the first exchange and she went down, possibly getting kicked in the head by a team mate. The decision was made to airlift this young lady to UofM as well. Thankfully, like the current incident, this athlete was not critically injured and she recovered, hopefully like this young man does. The simple fact is, unless one is 100% sure, the best course of action is to be extra careful, which means taking no chances, which is also why they didn't go to CCH.
Laura Jones
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
I think your point about Survival Flight being a joint decision is key. It is a call made by doctors at the U in consultation with ground personnel so it seems rather safe to assume the reported injury and symptoms of the child indicated this level of response. Second guessing the decision now is easy given that the outcome is known - at the time, apparently well trained and educated professionals deemed it necessary.
harry
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
Wow !! That is one expensive concussion.
YpsiLivin
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
Most health insurance companies don't provide coverage for air ambulance services. Many don't even provide coverage for ground ambulance services, although you can sometimes buy a private policy or additional rider for ambulance transportation services. You can also buy contracts for non-emergency transports. (I think HVA offers such a plan.)
chapmaja
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:38 a.m.
One thing to consider. When this occurred. I do recall and issue previously where an athlete (who I went to school with), suffered a severe leg injury in a school athletic contest. She was transported to the hospital as a result of this injury. Her families insurance did not cover the transport, however it was covered by the schools liability insurance. I don't know for sure if things are the same, but the liability insurance that schools carry for athletics often used to cover charges for medical care beyond what the family's insurance covered, including transportation costs in the event of serious injury regarding immediate medical treatment.
boo
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 3:02 a.m.
If that was my child laying motionless on the field, I'd ask for the space shuttle if that would get them to safety even one second sooner.
TinyArtist
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
that would be LYING motionless
Tesla
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
Thats the emotion, sure, but I'd like to see one of the guys like tru blue or someone actually figure out what it would cost to fly your kid 14.5 miles in the space shuttle. And then I want you to tell us who is supposed to pay for it. We need to be responsible with our children and injured people, but...we also need to be prudent, Fiscally responsible, and smart with our resources. Don't forget....it's very dangerous and risky for these helicopters to transport these patients too. Theres been several crashes in the last year.
BradP
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 2:02 a.m.
With private insurance, we can put the boy's life ahead of the cost of care. It's a logical fallacy to judge the value of a decision after the fact. Decisions are good or bad based on what you knew at the time. Head injuries can mess you up for life. People at a football game arent' qualified to treat something like this (imo, neither is the Chelsea Hosp. because time is such an issue with concussions). With socialized medicine, he may not have had the benefit of the helicopter flight. He may have been driven to Chelsea, even though his parents preferred Motts (and with good reason). The decision to go with the world class children's hosp was the right one. And aren't we all glad that the boy is recovering and (I'm assuming) didn't need heroic care at Motts.
harry
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
Very true. I don't think people really understand how bad socialize medicine is. Talk to somebody from Canada or the UK who has been sick. The ultimate "nail in the coffin" for socialize medicine is when the Premier of Canada went to Florida to have his operation. HA
BradP
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
Ask the folks with medicare or medicaid if they have the same level of choice as when they had private insurance. If as many services or medications are covered. If deep down they don't feel like the cost of needed treatments has a MAJOR effect on what their options are. If you think that we would have the same standard of care and the choice of providers and facilities with socialized medicine, then you have a very naive outlook--imo. "Socialized medicine is a system for providing medical and hospital care for all at a nominal cost by means of government regulation of health services and subsidies derived from taxation." If it's at nominal cost, then there must be strong biases against expensive care or there aren't and taxpayers are bled to death. P.S. Define "when needed." Does everyone in the decision making process use the same standard? Because that would make things so much easier.
1bit
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 11:06 a.m.
This has nothing to do with private or "socialized" medicine. You do realize that there is zero chance that they asked what the kid's insurance was prior to sending the helicopter, right? You do know that uninsured people would have gotten the treatment? You do know that Medicare is "socialized medicine" and they get helicopter flights when needed? I agree with your comments that it is a fallacy to second guess the decision and that we are all indeed happy that the boy is recovering.
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
The benefit of even a short ride in a helicopter is that the travel to the hospital will be much smoother, both vertically (bumps) and horizontally (accelerating and braking) than an ambulance ride. This is especially important for a head, neck or back injury, especially when the extent of the damage is not yet known. It also has to do getting the best care for the child as soon as possible, because a pediatric emergency specialist will be on the helicopter and will get to the victim quicker. Upon arrival at the scene of the injury and during the trip to the hospital, this specialist will begin to diagnose and care for the child, and instruct the receiving hospital how to best prepare for the care that will be given upon their arrival.
1bit
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 11:02 a.m.
While I have great respect for those on Survival Flight, their mission is mostly supportive care. In a situation such as this, the concern would be of a potential spinal cord injury or intracranial hemorrhage. They will not put burr holes in on the field or helicopter and will perform standard EMT duties to secure the airway, resuscitate the patient, and secure the cervical spine. At the hospital, imaging studies will be the next step to guide treatment. As for the "bumpy" ride on an ambulance, that would not affect a properly secured patient. The vast majority of patients with c-spine injuries are transported by ambulance (including professional football players). It's easy in hindsight to second guess what happened. Sometimes life is inefficient and all that really matters is that the kid is okay.
Yahoo
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
Logical. Thanks for a perspective I hadn't considered.
Linda Peck
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
I truly hate the game of football and all of the injuries people endure who play it. It should be outlawed, along with boxing. I am sorry for this young boy and the trauma he endured. Such folly. When will people understand their bodies and their children's bodies are not indestructible, or worse playthings?
OLDTIMER3
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
@a2citizen, They still have to strap injured person on the stretcher whether it be for ambulance or helicopter.
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:46 p.m.
Linda, you have the choice of not playing any sports you think are too dangerous for you. At the same time, we and our children have the choice of playing them without other people meddling in our business.
theodynus
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
How much risk should we allow people to take, exactly? You seem to have it figured out, so please enlighten me. Should I be allowed to drive an old car without airbags? Can I still eat a hamburger? Is riding my bike ok in the street? Is hockey alright? What about rock climbing? I'd love a list of activities that are too risky for my sacred body.
leaguebus
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
I had a friend in high school that was hit in the forehead with a bat. He was on third base the batter swung and lost his grip on the bat. He had to have a plate put into his head, still has it today. That being said, if is safe to say that nothing people do is totally safe. There are lots of adults that played football and boxed that have had no problems. You should also want to ban driving, there are many more deaths in that dangerous endeavor.
Tesla
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.
I'll say it. Thats a ten thousand dollar ride to the hospital which is five miles away. Pretty loose use of insurance dollars if you ask me. But hey.....I don't have to pay for it, right?
chapmaja
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.
A have a few comments to respond to the comments here. First, Telsa, if it was your child, would you want any delay in transporting them? Second, music to my ear is EXACTLY correct. There have been many cases of someone getting hit, and not seeming to bad, only to determine what was throught to be a concussion was a TBI which killed them. Unless we are 110% sure the person is not critically ill, transporting the fastest method, with the best trained personel is best. The flight nurses at UofM are significantly better trained than any member of HVA is. Third, the reason CCH was discounted as an option is very simple. CCH is not a trauma center. It is a great facility for non-life threatening injuries, but it does not have the capabilities to handle potentially deadly closed head injuries. At the time, nobody knew the extent of the injuries, so it was best to send this child to a trauma center, which UofM has at both the main and Mott's hospitals. Finally 1bit. I think you are very off base with the assumption that "that there were no trained medical personnel at the game and just (naturally) panicked parents and coaches." No school in their right mind would have a football game without medically trained individuals on site at a football game. The reason is simple. LIABILITY. If a serious injury occurs at a football game, the first thing that gets asked by the lawyer is "what medical staff was on site when the injury occurred?" I know this from two angles. One is as a coach, where an athlete suffered a concussion at practice. There were medical and legal issues that results from that case. The second is because I know several people who are personal injury lawyers who deal in these type cases everyday. The simple fact is, the entire set of facts surrounding this lead to the decision to airlift the child to the closest facility designed to handle the potentiall deadly situation, which any significant blow to the head is.
a2citizen
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.
1bit: "odds are..." Odds? Read unusual suspects 7:53pm post.
harry
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
I agree.. Strange desicion to air lift for a concussion. Yes I am a parent and my boys have had concussions before. Everybody is so sue happy the doctor or medical person was just covering every base. I don't envy the fight they will have with the insurance company to try to get them to pay for it. I fought forever trying to get blue cross to pay for a trip to the emergency room for a kidney stone.
1bit
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 10:48 a.m.
a2citizen: Odds are that an ambulance was probably closer and could have made the trip to Mott in nearly the same time. Odds are too, however, that there were no trained medical personnel at the game and just (naturally) panicked parents and coaches. They dial 911 and the rest unfolds because the severity of the injury cannot be accurately assessed on the phone. No one to blame as everyone was erring on the side of caution, but in hindsight it was more expensive than the ambulance and didn't improve the outcome.
Reason
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 9:29 a.m.
Medical staff are always involved in decisions about how to transport injured patients. Nobody takes a helicopter because they want to--it suggests a MUCH higher concern for serious injury and a decision that time mattered a lot. Chelsea Community Hospital is a great hospital but is not set up for intensive care of kids, nor would there be an in-house neurosurgeon/peds critical care team if needed.
a2citizen
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 12:45 a.m.
Cruising speed of a Eurocopter EC155 B1 is 172 mph. By air the distance is approximately 14.5 miles That makes the helicopter 22 minutes roundtrip. Have you ever seen a football player on TV get strapped into a stretcher? It takes 10 minutes to secure them for transportation. The helicopter can almost be there by the time the player was secured in the stretcher. I'm sure the coaches and medical people at the game are well aware of Chelsea Community Hospital's ability to handle different types of injuries. While it wouldn't make much sense to transport the injured person to a hospital that did not have the facilities (personnel and equipment) to help him, the parents do sound grateful that the decision to take the kid to Mott instead of CCH. So again, was the boy conscious? Did he have feelings in his extremeties? Could he move his limbs? I'm sure the medical people their weighed these and other factors.
Yahoo
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:36 p.m.
Sorry...should read " that Chelsea Hosp was not chosen."
Yahoo
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
Ok so Chelsea is 16 miles to Motts (vs 10, I stand corrected), but the question remains the same....What is the TRAVEL TIME of that distance by air vs ambulance? Just trying to ascertain if there was any real time savings gained if the situation was so critical that Chelsea Hospital was chosen.Also, unless I missed something, I did not read anything in the article or the comments where anyone suggested a diagnosis...
a2citizen
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
Chelsea to Mott is about 16 miles. Was the boy concious? Was he able to move his limbs? And what is/was your diagnosis?
Yahoo
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
Tesla, I understand your comment about expense but do not want to get in the unending debate about the price of a child's life. Instead, can anyone tell me definitively (no guesses or opinions please), did an airlift really save time vs a 10 mile drive to the U? And really, if it was that critical, why was Chelsea Hospital discounted as an option?
encreative
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
The game was in Chelsea. Although they were maybe a 1/4 mile from Chelsea Community Hospital, the family asked that he be sent to Mott's.
music to my ear
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
it was a better safe than sorry situation some kids have been hit and later died. there is no amount of money worth anyones life yes I payed for it too,would you rather all our money went to stupid stuff the lawmakers do with it alot of money is being wasted we all see it everyday. right now my pet peave is detroit and belle isle Money could be spent on improving the young people of Detroit getting them training and counsel so you are worried about a helicopter ride and not the well being of the child, I am sure they all panicked I do understand your point but we are never going to have any say in our money ever.its been going on for years and years.maybe some day( God forbid)we might need that ride.
Dutchy734
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
safe to assume you're not a parent
music to my ear
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 6:46 p.m.
I am glad no one dilly dallied around. they took care of business acting fast is important, I am hoping he will be ok speeding recovery.
Barbara Read
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
Much better to airlift a boy to the hospital and he then gets to go home and recover, than the other way around. Our daughter had a concussion, and you really can't tell how bad it is from just looking at the child. She got knocked out, but seemed okay and went home from the hospital (where the concussion occurred!--long story), but then vomited every half-hour until we took her back in to Motts. "Seeming fine" can be deceptive. Err on the side of caution, definitely. Tuesday was also the day the Michigan senate passed the concussion bill. Sounds like Dexter knew what to do and handled this correctly even though the bill hasn't been signed in to law yet.
samshoe
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
I was so happy when my son decided not to play high school football. I am glad to read that the boy is okay. Hopefully his family will wait until he is completely recovered before returning to practice and games.
Barbara Read
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 1:50 a.m.
There's a bill in Michigan that has passed the house and senate. I don't think aa.com puts live links in comments, but you can cut and paste this into your browser. http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=805303#.UGOwkI7AlAU
garrisondyer
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
Hmmm, actually, I just looked up what the name of the law was, and all I could find was proposed federal legislation, nothing signed into law yet. Weird, I could have sworn it was law by now... Maybe someone reading on here knows more and can elaborate.
garrisondyer
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 12:12 a.m.
There's a federal law now that anyone suspected of having a concussion (or having a confirmed one) has to have a doctor's permission before rejoining sports activities. Hopefully everyone involved knows about this...