Texans Host Emergency Medical Training with Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M
By Inside the Houston Methodist Training Center, where the Houston Texans typically prepare for Sunday showdowns, a different kind of practice took center stage—one designed to save lives.
According to Click2Houston, Texans athletic trainers, medical personnel, and staff from Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University gathered for an emergency medical seminar focused on preparedness in the face of catastrophic injuries. From cutting off jerseys to stabilizing spines, attendees rehearsed every detail of a potential on-field crisis.
“The biggest thing with Damar [Hamlin] is no one in America had seen that happen in an NFL game,” Darryl Conway, chief health and wellness officer at the University of Michigan, told Click2Houston. Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a game in 2023 highlighted the life-or-death importance of being ready. “We had been training for it. They saw the response and the value of that kind of training.”
That readiness was on full display during the seminar, where mannequins subbed in for players and every move—from removing gear to applying braces—was scrutinized like game tape.
The Texans also opened the door for local college staff to participate, fostering a collaborative environment. Prairie View’s Nilaja Williams said learning more efficient helmet-removal techniques and seeing different protocols in action was especially valuable. “To be able to collaborate and see what everyone else is doing, you learn something new,” she said.
Jeorgia Sanders, director of sports medicine at Texas Southern, echoed that sentiment. “It was nice to see everybody on the same page and learning different techniques we can use,” she said. “It was a good refresher.”
