Brinkley, Ark. – A grieving mother is urging the community and school officials to ensure qualified medical staff are present at all high‑school sporting events after her daughter, 24‑year‑old Jemesha Chunn, died during a football game on Sept. 18.
Jemesha, an alum of Brinkley High School, was attending a game against Abundant Life Christian Academy when she suffered a severe asthma attack that quickly progressed to cardiac arrest. While bystanders performed CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) was on the field, no emergency medical professionals were available to intervene.
Absence of ambulance and qualified responders
According to Southern Paramedic Services CEO Gary Padget, an ambulance was initially dispatched to the stadium but left to respond to an emergency call in Little Rock. The company’s lone vehicle in Brinkley then requested mutual aid from Forrest City, nearly 30 minutes away. Padget said the service has a contract with the city of Brinkley, but did not confirm whether a separate agreement exists with the school district that would have required the ambulance to remain on site.
“It probably wouldn’t have made a difference, but to know that you left, and you could have just let somebody know that you left, it probably could have been a different scenario,” Chunn told Channel 7 News.
Community response and calls for accountability
Latoya Chunn emphasized that the lack of qualified personnel was a preventable factor. “Something more could have been done,” she said, adding that the AED present was not used despite the emergency.
She described her daughter as “loving, caring, a fun spirit, very sweet, everybody loved her,” and urged the school and community to take responsibility so that no other family endures a similar tragedy.
School district’s brief comment
The Brinkley School District confirmed a death occurred after school hours but declined to provide further details.
Local officials and emergency‑service providers have been asked to review protocols for medical coverage at school events. Residents are calling for clear contracts that guarantee an ambulance or qualified medical staff remain on site for the duration of games and other large gatherings.
What parents can do now
Parents are encouraged to inquire about emergency‑response plans at their children’s schools, ensure that students with known medical conditions have appropriate action plans, and advocate for the presence of trained personnel during high‑attendance events.
The tragedy has sparked a broader conversation in Monroe County about the adequacy of emergency medical services in small towns and the need for stronger partnerships between municipalities, school districts, and private ambulance providers.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
