Award For Quick-Thinking School Staff Who Saved Pupil’s Life
Quick-thinking staff from Pil Primary School will receive a special award this week after helping to save the life of a pupil who had suffered a cardiac arrest.
In January, ten-year-old schoolboy Cameron Tune collapsed in the foyer of the Pyle school, and the seriousness of the situation soon became clear as he had stopped breathing.
Staff quickly administered first aid which included CPR before Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics arrived on scene within minutes of the 999 call.
After administering a shock with a defibrillator, the paramedics were soon supported by other medical staff who helped to stabilise Cameron’s condition before he was driven by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Cameron was later transferred to a hospital in Bristol where an Automatic Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator was fitted in his chest, so that it can treat any dangerously abnormal heart rhythms.
After a spell in hospital, Cameron is now thankfully back at school.
This Friday, five staff from Pil Primary – Paula Rowlands, Cheryl Jones, Karen Flower-Robbins, Sarah Wallace and Head teacher Neil Pryce – will be presented with a Mayor’s Citizenship Award by the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough for their quick-thinking.
Held annually, the awards are staged to reward the county borough’s unsung heroes such as charity champions, outstanding volunteers, and other residents who have done something remarkable in local communities either during the last year or over a sustained period of time.
Councillor Reg Jenkins, the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, said: “I was astonished to hear Cameron’s story and the remarkable way that school staff responded.
“They undoubtedly saved Cameron’s life and I will be honoured to present them with a citizenship award. I’m pleased to hear that Cameron is back in school and doing well, and I hope that his family’s lives are gradually getting back to normal after such a traumatic time.”
Pil Primary Head teacher Neil Pryce said: “I can’t praise the staff enough for their response in dealing with very a serious and life threatening situation. I am immensely proud of their actions on the day.
“A small number of staff administered CPR, while others ensured that all children were cared for sensitively and given reassurance.
“Having to perform CPR on a pupil is not what you expect to do in a normal school day, but thankfully all staff had received First Aid Training last September which has proven to be invaluable.
“I’m pleased to say that Cameron is back in school after only six weeks and it is amazing to see how well he looks. I would very much like to thank the paramedics, air ambulance, doctors and police for their swift response.”
After calling by the school last week, Paramedic Steve Smith, who is based at Bryncethin Ambulance Station, said: “We were just so happy to see Cameron back in school after such a short time.
“Although we were on the scene within minutes of the call, those minutes that the teachers carried out CPR saved his life really.”
His colleague Gareth Evans, who has been with the ambulance service for about 28 years, said: “I was a bit emotional when I heard that Cameron was better as seeing a child ill is the most upsetting thing. It’s all about getting oxygen flowing and by starting CPR as early as his teachers did definitely helped.”
To show their appreciation for the emergency service’s response, a number of Pil Primary staff are planning to climb Pen y Fan on Wednesday 12 April to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance and to purchase a defibrillator for the school.
The 2017 Bridgend County Borough Mayor’s Citizenship Awards will be held on Friday 17 March at the council’s Civic Offices in Bridgend. Photos and the stories behind all of this year’s winners will be publicised on Bridgend County Borough Council’s social media channels.
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