HAMMOND — Graduate students at Southeastern Louisiana University saved a man's life on campus after he collapsed near his transportation vehicle during the summer semester.

Students from the Master of Science in Athletic Training program were leaving class around 2 p.m. when they came across a client from the OPTIONS program who had collapsed. OPTIONS clients have cognitive challenges and provide services to the College of Nursing through maintenance and custodial work.

The students assessed the man's airway, breathing, circulation and responsiveness — skills they had just covered in Clinical Assistant Professor Scottie Patton's Emergencies in Athletic Training class.

After determining he was unresponsive with no breathing or pulse, the students started CPR. At the same time, they called emergency services, retrieved an AED from the Kinesiology and Health Sciences building and notified Patton.

Nursing students also stepped in to help maintain the man's airway and brought a crash cart to the scene. The University Police Department, Hammond Fire Department and EMS all arrived to care for and transport him.

"The remarkable thing about this incident is that the emergency response was entirely student-initiated without hesitation, as the athletic training students had just reviewed situations like this," Patton said. "Bystanders reported that the response was seamless and the victim made a full recovery."

The athletic training students and Patton were recognized by Southeastern's President William S. Wainwright for their response.

"This is a powerful example of how experiential learning prepares our students to make a difference when it matters most," Wainwright said. "These students took the skills they had learned in the classroom and immediately put them into action, demonstrating tremendous preparation, teamwork and compassion. We are incredibly proud of their response and grateful to everyone who worked together to help save a life."