Thomas More University Athletics is taking an important step toward promoting student-athlete safety through TAKE10 CPR training, a free, fast, 10-minute, non-certification community program that teaches hands-only, compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

In partnership with the Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives from each Thomas More athletic team participated in training on Monday, October 26, designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach the hands-only CPR technique to their teammates.

In athletics, medical emergencies can occur at any time, and immediate action can make a critical difference. While athletic trainers and coaching staff play an essential role in student-athlete safety, they are not always in close proximity when an emergency occurs. This can be particularly true for sports such as cross country and golf, where student-athletes may be spread across large areas and away from immediate medical assistance.

In these situations, a teammate or peer may be the first person available to respond and this initiative empowers student-athletes to recognize the importance of being prepared to act when seconds matter. By empowering SAAC representatives to share their training with their respective teams, Thomas More Athletics is helping ensure that more student-athletes have the opportunity to learn and practice this potentially life-saving skill.

The Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation further demonstrated its commitment to student-athlete safety by providing the Thomas More Athletic Department with CPR training manikins and an automated external defibrillator (AED) trainer. These resources will allow the department to continue offering hands-only CPR instruction and provide student-athletes with opportunities to practice and reinforce their skills.

Through this collaborative effort, Thomas More Athletics is building a culture of preparedness, awareness, and peer-to-peer education. The initiative reinforces the importance of being ready to respond when an emergency occurs and recognizes that the ability to act quickly can make a life-saving difference.

By equipping student-athletes with the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency, Thomas More University and the Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation are helping extend the circle of care beyond the athletic training room and into the hands of teammates who may be the first to help.