Del Mar High School (San Jose, California) principal Liz Seabury, is facing criticism for refusing to let an ambulance drive onto a football field to help an injured player. Fourteen-year-old Keanu Gallardo suffered a concussion during Del Mar’s JV football game on October 29. Paramedics had to roll a gurney 75 yards downfield while Gallardo was lying on the football field on October 29, 2010.
The principal claims she was following district orders, banning motorized vehicles on the high school’s recently remodeled playing field.
Parents are criticizing her lack of common sense, and a society that effects such lack of common sense in a person employed in a high level position.
Campbell Union High School District board member Matthew Dean feels the blame falls three ways: 1) The principal should have made a different decision, 2) The emergency responders could have overridden her, and 3) He’s looking at the district.
Emergency response experts criticize the lack of pre-planning that would allow (1) the ambulance close access to any sideline or end zone position near the football field, or (2) a golf cart-type rescue vehicle with gurney- or stretcher-carrying capability to access any point on the field.