A house RESOLUTION

To HONOR AND COMMEND Dorman High School TRACK TEAM coaches Tariq Caudle and Jeffrey Johns for their HEROIC EFFORTS THAT SAVED THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEIR STUDENT-ATHLETES.

Whereas,  the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives wish to extend their ardent appreciation to Mr. Tariq Caudle and Mr. Jeffrey Johns, coaches for the Dorman High School track team, for their heroic conduct that saved the life of a student-athlete on their team; and

Whereas, coaches and athletes respond to adversity every day, but adversity of a different sort arose on March 8, 2023, when Dorman junior sprinter and hurdler Ray Busby inadvertently ingested a beverage that contained cashews, triggering a severe allergic reaction in the student-athlete while the team attended a track meet at T. L. Hannah High School; and

Whereas, Busby, aware that he has a serious allergy to nuts, quickly notified his coaches when he realized his mistake, letting them know that he was feeling unwell. The coaches took Busby's complaints seriously, knowing that he was not one to complain; and

Whereas, the gravity of the situation quickly became apparent when Busby began swelling and blacking out. The coaches sprung into action, with Coach Johns calling 911 and Coach Caudle finding a trainer who administered an EpiPen injection in an effort to alleviate Busby's condition; and

Whereas, when Busby's conditioned continued to worsen, the coaches lowered him to the ground, began administering CPR, and provided three additional EpiPen injections. As Coach Caudle administered CPR, Coach Johns focused on monitoring Busby's vital signs and keeping him in the optimal position for his airways to remain open; and

Whereas, meanwhile, leaders from T. L. Hanna and Dorman respectfully agreed to cancel the track meet so that everyone could focus on Busby and his well-being; and

Whereas, EMS paramedics arrived, and Busby was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Upon arrival, he was put on a ventilator and remained on it for two days before awakening. Emergency room doctors at the hospital were impressed with the coaches' responses, which were critical to Busby's survival; and

Whereas, the calm, steady leadership of Coach Caudle and Coach Johns, combined with expertise they gained from required medical response training, enabled these heroic coaches to meet the moment and give a second chance at life to a young man entrusted to their care; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives remains deeply grateful to coaches who provide valuable guidance to the youth of the Palmetto State, even more so when they become everyday heroes, and the members express their sincere appreciation to Coach Caudle and Coach Johns for their courage and quick-thinking. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dorman High School track team coaches Tariq Caudle and Jeffrey Johns for their heroic actions that saved the life of one of their student-athletes.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Tariq Caudle and Coach Jeffrey Johns.

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