At the recent MHSAA Tennis Finals, we faced a heart-wrenching situation when a young, bright star, suddenly went into cardiac arrest. He was lucky; he's out of ICU now. But he and  others shouldn't have to rely on luck to survive.

Regrettably, this incident reveals the troubling deficiencies in emergency preparedness at Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sanctioned events. Despite the multitude of risks inherent in competitive sports, including cardiac events, it seems there are little to no preventive or reactive measures in place to address such emergencies.

We urge the Michigan High School Athletic Association and relevant authorities to recognize this oversight. Action must be taken now to review and improve emergency protocols. Our student-athletes are not just playing for their dreams and their schools, they are the future of our nation. Surely, they deserve better than safety measures reliant solely on chance.

We believe the improvements should include, at minimum, readily accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at each event, medical personnel specifically trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using AEDs, and timely emergency response procedures in place at every MHSAA event. Our children's lives are worth more than the cost of these essential measures.

We have seen firsthand the devastating impact of unpreparedness. Let us not wait for another incident to occur. We implore you - protect our children, protect our future. Please sign this petition; your support could save a life.