MONROE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A community is in shock after a young student athlete collapsed on the field.
Jon-Ross Snell collapsed during football practice at George Walton Academy on Monday. He was air-lifted to Children's Healthcare at Egleston where he remains in critical condition.
This is the second Georgia student athlete to collapse in less than a week. Just a few days ago a Buford basketball student died.
The big question is of course what happened, but at this point we just don't know. The incident also raised some questions about Georgia's physical screening process for athletes.
Athletic physicals have no doubt come a long way over the years.
Ralph Swearngin is the executive director of the Georgia High School Association.
"We've heard stories of physicals many years ago that were on prescription pads where a doctor said 'Johnny can play,'" Swearngin said.
Now athletes go through a gauntlet of tests from hernia checks to heart screens using a variety of new technology, but with two situations in less than a week, one at Buford High School and now this, the tough question had to be asked: Is it enough?
Swearngin said it is.
"Most doctors that we consult as part of our advisory committee say it's about the best we can possibly do at this time," Swearngin said.
That's because the available improvements would cost thousands of dollars.
"When you're talking from the Florida border to north Georgia mountains it's a lot of kids and a lot of different situations," Swearngin said.
But he said even if they could afford all the new bells and whistles, students will never be totally protected.
"Doctors tell us no matter what the test is, what it generally does is tell you what it looks like right now. It can't predict two hours, two days, or two years from now," Swearngin said.
However, Swearngin said they are always reevaluating their procedures and will make any necessary changes as soon as possible.
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Jon Ross Snell
