Staff members at Rickman Elementary saved the life of a school custodian by utilizing an automated external defibrillator and performing CPR.
Principal Julia Poston said the incident began when a teacher discovered custodian Mike Clark in distress inside a hallway closet. The faculty member used a school walkie-talkie to alert the campus first responder team, which includes the school nurse, the school resource officer, and physical education coaches.
“We hooked up the AED, what we’ve been trained to do to see if it recognized a need, and it did,” Poston said, “And so thankfully we were able to get him to regain consciousness after a few minutes of CPR and the AED working.”
Poston said the response team reached the custodian’s location within 20 seconds of the initial radio call. School Nurse Tammy Nimmo began CPR immediately while other staff members prepared the AED for use.
“Well, just that, you know, oftentimes we do these trainings and we think, oh, this is just another thing to do and everything, but it is a very obvious reminder of how important having those drills, whether you’re in a school setting or, you know, any type of work setting where you’re around other people, knowing what the procedures and the protocols are for emergencies and practicing those things to where you are can respond as quickly as possible if an emergency arises,” Poston said.
Poston said the school conducts staff development training on emergency protocols during the summer for all employees. The first responder team also participates in random practice drills throughout the school year using CPR dummies to maintain their proficiency.
“At least twice a year,” Poston said. “At least once in the fall and once in the spring. And it continues from year to year. The team stays the same basically, unless someone no longer works here. That way, the same people are always, you know, they’ve been familiar with the procedures year after year.”
Poston said the school staff is accustomed to handling medical situations such as student seizures, but this event marked the first time the team had to deploy an AED in a real-life scenario. The principal identified SRO Wade Draper, PE coaches Larry Jones and Misty Garrett, and staff members Shannon Carner, Lisa Gabbard, and Tyler Livingston as key participants in the response.
“Well, I just would encourage everybody to be aware of your surroundings and if you’re some place, you know, where AED, you know, if you’re at an activity or a function, know where the AED, you know, are located within your buildings and things like that and just continue practicing those drills because you never know when it is going to save a life,” Poston said.
Poston said Clark is expected to face an extensive recovery period.
“And I am very thankful for all of our team members and just all of our faculty and staff, though,” Poston said. “Anytime, you know, if there is a circumstance goes on, you know, everyone pitches in, helps, does what they’re supposed to do, and that makes all the difference.”