Episode 105: Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Ray Castle

The ALL ME® Podcast

Sudden Cardiac Arrest – Ray Castle, PhD, LAT, ATC, NREMT

There are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year with nearly 9-% of them being fatal. When looking at sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) in athletes, the incidence is 1: 33,134 male’s athletes and 1: 76,646 female athletes. While there are various signs and symptoms that someone can look for to help determine their level of risk, there are also lifestyle habits that may be increasing your risk.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Ray Castle, owner of Action Medicine Consultants, who has spent the last 35 years as a Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer about the significance of the emergency response protocol. Dr. Castle and I discuss signs and symptoms of SCD, potential causes, the types of tests that can help identify if someone is at risk, the role of the athletic trainer on a medical staff, and the significance of the response time and the odds of survival.

Stay tuned until the end as Ray shares his story about his experience at the Boston Marathon during the bombing and how his team responded.

 Ray Castle, PhD, LAT, ATC, NREMT

A native of St. Joseph, LA and a 1990 graduate of LSU, Castle has an extensive background in education, clinical practice, and professional service spanning over 32 years. Dr. Castle's clinical practice background has included experiences at the high school, college, and international (1996 Atlanta Olympic Games; USOC Sports Medicine Staff for 2003 Pan American Games; and 2004 US Women's Bobsled) levels, large-scale medical coverage and coordination, as well as extensive experience in emergency medicine. He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University, where he began as an athletic training student.  Ray received his Master of Science and his Doctor of Philosophy in Human Performance and Recreation from The University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, Ray is a nationally registered emergency medical technician (NREMT) as well as an EMS Instructor through the Louisiana State Bureau of EMS.

Castle is nationally known and recognized for his skills and contributions to advancing the athletic training profession and advocacy for sports health and safety through 200+ presentations, research projects, and publications.  He has served in various leadership roles in state, regional, and national organizations, including a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Education Council (2004-2008), Board Commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) from 2011-2017, and Vice-President of the Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association (2013-2016). Ray is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including National Athletic Trainers' Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (MDAT) in 2017, induction into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2014, and Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2019. Additionally, Castle and three LSU Athletic Training Students were recognized with a Concurrent Resolution from Louisiana State Senate for their emergency response roles at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

After a 20-year stay at LSU where he was Professor and Athletic Training Program Director, Castle transitioned in August 2022 to devote his energy and passion to Action Medicine Consultants, LLC, as Owner and Chief Medical Officer since 2012. His company provides sports medicine event coordination; emergency medicine and response training; EAP development and audits for organizations; and continuing education courses. One of his most recent activities was serving as a consultant for the Louisiana High School Athletics Association in the development and implementation of its Pre-Game Administrative Conference (PAC), or “medical time-out” program. He currently serves as medical coordinator for over 20 large-scale events in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Ray is married to the former Katherine Vanduzee of Baton Rouge, LA. Katherine is an administrative assistant who attended LSU.

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