Pickleball Safety :
One Club ’ s ( Very ) Fortunate Story
Does your club have an AED ? If not , take a lesson from a pickleball near-tragedy that had a very happy ending .
By Deirdre Michalski
It ’ s no secret the pickleball community includes a dominant percentage of older Americans . According to USA Pickleball , 40 percent of regular pickleball players are 65 +, and a whopping 64 percent of competitors are 55 or older .
Also well-known is that a significant risk to the older pickleball community is heart disease . Sixty-nine percent of men and 68 percent of women between the ages of 60 and 79 have cardiovascular disease , according to the American Heart Association .
Pickleball ’ s growth resulted in an explosion of new facilities that may be unprepared for the most serious emergencies — especially heart attacks . One club was prepared , and just in time to prove how valuable that was .
The Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach , California , is a renowned 31-court club with 1,500 + pickleball members and it holds large USA Pickleball sanctioned tournaments . In early 2021 , the club implemented a program to acquire emergency and first aid equipment and train members and staff on its use . Among the purchases were an automated external defibrillator ( AED ) and a wheelchair .
The Club ’ s Efforts Saved a Life
Just four months later , in June 2021 , during an earlymorning match at the USA Pickleball Newport Beach National Championships , a male player suffered a massive heart attack . He staggered on the court , fell unconscious and the other players called for help . Within moments three people responded , including a referee and club member who had EMT training . The player barely had a pulse , and they began CPR . The member called for the club ’ s AED and to have someone call 911 . Tournament Director Pat Rolfes ran for the AED .
As is often the case , the CPR effort failed to revive the victim , and the man lost all pulse shortly after they began chest compressions . When the AED arrived , the member applied the chest pads , and following the AED ’ s instructions , administered a shock from the device to the victim . Just moments after applying the AED , the victim ’ s heart function returned , he opened his eyes and spoke with his caregivers .
The fallen player was awake and communicating when the professional first responders arrived to take him to a nearby hospital . During his hospital stay , an internal defibrillator was implanted .
“ We are immeasurably grateful this had a happy ending . Massive heart attacks are a killer and without resources , the chances of survival are tiny . This was a tragedy averted through our club ’ s preparation and the fast action of bystanders . You can ’ t imagine our joy in seeing him open his eyes and speak — after having no pulse at all ,” says club member , and former EMT , Jon Rosen .
Days after the incident , the victim called the club from the hospital , overcome with gratitude to those who saved his life . Just weeks after his heart attack , he celebrated the birth of his first grandchild . It was a powerful event for everyone involved , and it confirmed that the club ’ s preparation could make a difference . Those efforts and the quick actions of bystanders will never be forgotten by the player , his friends and family .