Little did Amber Marlett know that keeping her ritual of going to Starbucks on game days would help save someone’s life.

As she walked toward the entrance, Marlett saw a man on the ground and another man checking his neck for a pulse. The one trying to help the victim asked patrons, “Can someone help me with CPR?”

Marlett said the man on the ground had a light pulse, but was not responsive. She gave chest compressions while the other volunteer assisted with breathing. They worked together to resuscitate the man before paramedics arrived.

She recounted how one of the medics asked about her Rams shirt and what she was studying.

"When I told him I was studying athletic training at Texas Wesleyan, he said, 'Oh, then you know exactly what you’re doing.'"

Following through on training

Pam Rast, athletic training program director and professor/chair of the kinesiology department, wasn’t surprised to hear one of our students sprang into action to render aid – because that’s what our students are trained to do.

"I am extremely proud of her," Rast said. "I am glad that she had the confidence in her abilities to step up and help. That is why we review CPR skills annually with all of our athletic training students."

A humble heroine

Marlett downplays her behavior and says it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

"I didn’t think anything of it because I’ve been CPR certified since I was 16,” she said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. I think I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do."

3-for-3 on having a good day

The first big event of that day was helping save a life. That afternoon, Marlett was the starting pitcher in the Texas Wesleyan softball game, where she hit a home run. If that weren’t enough, Rast notified her that she’d scored 100 on a test about the spine and thoracic vertebrae.

Not a bad day, right?

After she graduates, Marlett wants to be a sports medicine doctor, and Texas Wesleyan is helping her to prepare for that career.

"Texas Wesleyan is one of a handful of schools that allows athletes to be in athletic training, so that’s why I chose to come here."

Did you know?

The athletic training program has three American Red Cross instructors:

• Kyle Morgan
• Alicia Berry
• Pam Rast

How does the athletic training program prepare students?

Students receive formal instruction in the following specific subject matter:

• Evidence-based practice
• Prevention and health promotion
• Clinical examination and diagnosis
• Acute care of injury and illness
• Therapeutic interventions
• Psychosocial strategies and referral
• Healthcare administration
• Professional development and responsibility

All certified athletic trainers and athletic training students are required by the Board of Certification to maintain current certification in CPR/AED for the professional rescuer.