LYNCHBURG, Tenn. –– It’s a random Tuesday at Moore County High School when a middle school student collapsed unresponsive mere feet from Assistant Principal Brooke Lindsey and several fellow students. They sprung into action and those actions literally saved their classmate’s life.
Metro Moore County Public Safety Director Jason Deal was on call that morning and says that the actions by staff and students 100 percent made a difference in the final outcome for the local middle schooler.
According to local school officials, the student suddenly collapsed in the hallway while walking to the gym. Assistant Principal Lindsey immediately started attending to the student while an MCHS senior called 911. Other students quickly ran to find MCHS SRO Justin Grogan and other administrators. SRO Grogan, MCHS Principal Brad Sanders, and Coach T.J. Christian performed CPR while the students formed a protective barrier around the collapsed student — redirecting others who were unaware of the situation. MCHS Visual Art Teacher Marynn Spurlock also helped with the scene.
According to Director Deal, local EMS started teaching CPR to all staff within the school system over two years ago and all that work paid off on March 1.
“We’ve worked closely with Moore County Schools Safety and Coordinated Health Director Wendy Hart over the years on all hazards and emergency responses including AED drills,” Director Deal stated. “I also normally coordinate with Belinda Smith on student CPR certifications”.
Director Deal says he was the EMS first to arrive on scene. He says staff administered not only CPR but also used an AED defibrillator to revive the student. Metro Public Safety offices recently purchased six new AED devices that are located at Moore County Schools and other locations throughout the county thanks to a Governor’s Safety Grant and a donation from the Jack Daniel Distillery.
As Moore County Sheriff’s deputies and Metro EMS attended to the student, MCHS School Nurse Shea Logan contacted that student’s parents. In the end, Metro EMS transported the student to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital via LifeFlight.
“Member of Vanderbilt United Medical Center confirmed to the parents that the quick actions taken in the MCHS hallways by his school administrators, SRO, teachers, and classmates saved his life,” a Moore County School’s social media post stated.
“I cannot express in words how proud I am of every person involved in the incident,” said Director of Schools Chad Moorehead. “ A student’s life was saved inside our hallways. If you have a child in our building, they are walking amongst true heroes.”
Public Safety Director Deal agrees. “On this day, the staff and students stepped up and showed that training, preparation, and mitigation is what makes a true emergency a make it or break it deal.”
Two days after the event Nashville’s WTVF News Channel 5 and Nick Beres featured the story of the MCHS heroics on the early morning news broadcast.
“Nothing more to say about that, other than awesome and good job,” he stated. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}