School Staff Praised for Life-Saving Response After Student Suffers Cardiac Arrest

When a California student suddenly went into cardiac arrest during class, staff at the school saved the student's life. It took coordinated effort among three school members to rally around and get sophomore Mark Moon the help he needed. Now, he’s forever grateful.

Whole School Saves a Student's Life

When Mark collapsed in band class, his teacher quickly called the school office. School nurse Jennifer Bair and school resource officer Adaris immediately responded. 

"We knew right away, as soon as we walked in, that this was truly an emergency," Jennifer said. “We called for EMS, got them dispatched right away.”

She immediately did everything she could to save Mark and gave him chest compressions while a campus monitor went to get an AED machine (automated external defibrillator). Other staff members alerted Mike’s parents, cleared the classroom, and directed EMS on where to go. 

An Important Machine Got His Heart Beating Again

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Once the nurse applied the AED machine, it detected that he needed to be shocked, and it got his heart beating again.

When EMS arrived, they stabilized him and took him to the emergency room. Once there, many doctors began to work on him.

Mark had to have a defibrillator implanted, and it's still unknown why his heart stopped. 

"I've been getting better every day, and it's pretty much back to normal now," Mark said.

Student has an Attitude of Gratitude

“I was mainly like just really grateful that I was in the situation that I could be in the hospital recovering in the first place,” he said. 

He lost his memory of the day of the accident, but is grateful that the school staff worked together to save him. 

"The school gave us more time with our kid and more time with our family intact. I don't know how to say thank you to that gift,” his father said. 

The school recognized the eight staff members for their heroic actions at a district board meeting, which Mark and his family attended.

It’s incredible that everyone was there and knew what to do. Thanks to this great staff, Mark’s life was saved.

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Source: KCRA

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/ABC10

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.