Third Graders Save Teacher’s Life

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Third Graders Save Teacher’s Life

March 18th, 2016

Awake Goy

Level headed third graders keep their cool and get help when teacher collaspes.

Third grade students at Triangle Elementary School in Mount Dora, Florida, are credited with helping to save the life of their substitute teacher. The teacher collapsed during class because of cardiac arrest but the third graders didn’t sit there in shock or start crying. They took swift action that became the initial steps in saving the teacher’s life.

With their teacher down and apparently out, the students sprang into action: some students pressed the panic button in their classroom, other students went to get help from a teacher in a nearby classroom, and a few other students ran to the office of the school nurse. Some students calmly stayed with the teacher until the school nurse arrived.

The school nurse arrived at the classroom and began CPR on the teacher. However, she realized that an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was needed and had one sent to the classroom. An AED is a portable device that monitors a person’s heart rhythm and can send a shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. The fire department and county Emergency Medical Service were called, the teacher was stabilized and transported to the hospital.

The school principal said, “What made us so proud [is that] they didn’t lose their cool.” Some of the first responders couldn’t believe the third graders were so level headed.

After the teacher was released from the hospital she wrote in a statement: “Although I don’t remember anything that happened after I collapsed, I was told by my doctors that if not for [the third graders’] fast action, quick thinking, and calmness that enabled first responders to administer first aid to me quickly, I would not be here today… I will be going back to [the school] to personally thank all involved.”

The third grade class of 18 students was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Mount Dora Fire Department for their life-saving efforts. The certificate recognized the students for their “heroism by keeping calm and seeking help, resulting in saving a life.”

“We’ve never seen children of that age react so calmly and do all the things necessary to get the teacher help as quickly as possible,” said Mount Dora fire chief. “We were all so proud of this class and the school’s nurse that we couldn’t wait to give them a certificate of appreciation; they deserve recognition for a job well done.”