Baseball: The importance of knowing first aid

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Through the years, people have complained when they weren’t allowed to coach until they completed a first-aid class and got their certificate. There’s a reason for that. It’s critical for the safety of the kids.

Reseda Cleveland Coach Greg Venger is glad he knew what to do on Saturday when one of his players had a seizure in the dugout. The player wasn’t playing because of an illness. After the seizure, Venger said the player started choking, apparently from sunflower seeds stuck in his throat. Someone called 911.

Venger then gave him the Heimlich maneuver, and the seeds came flying out. The player was fine afterward and back to school on Monday.

‘My CPR and first-aid training definitely came in handy,’ Venger said.

-- Eric Sondheimer