Proclamation Issued to School Officials For Saving Student’s Life

Eagle’s Landing School officials accepted a proclamation from the Henry County Board of Commissioners. Pictured in front row (l.to r.) Al Kizzie, Joe Teknipp, Juanita Larry, Gabe Crerie, Eric Wortham, Captain Billy Kunkle and Chief Bill Lacy; back row (l.to r.) Chairman Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis, District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District I Commissioner Warren Holder, District II Commissioner Brian Preston, District III Commissioner Randy Stamey and District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation to several officials and staff from Eagle’s Landing High School in recognition of the lifesaving efforts they employed in saving a student’s life after he fell unconscious in the school cafeteria. The proclamation was read at Tuesday evening’s regular meeting.
It was on March 2, 2012 that Eagle’s Landing High School student Eric Wortham, Jr. was having lunch in the cafeteria when he passed out. Thanks to the quick thinking and actions of staff, including Principal Gabe Crerie, basketball coach Clay Crump, Assistant Principal Richard Jacoby, Assistant Principal Al Kizzie, staff member Juanita Larry, and football coach Joe Teknipp, the student is alive today.

School officials realized the student was in serious trouble when he ceased breathing and his heartbeat became faint. They immediately began CPR and continued to assess his condition until Teknipp was able to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to stabilize the student’s heartbeat until paramedics arrived.

“The American Heart Association tells us that the chain of survival is essential to a positive outcome,” said Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy. “What’s absolutely essential for a positive outcome is the first two links in the chain—early recognition that there’s a problem and early intervention by bystanders. We have a positive outcome to present tonight because the two links in that chain (that day) were extremely strong.”
Commissioners also presented Certificates of Appreciation to the school’s staff members who aided in saving the student’s life.
For information on the importance of CPR, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

	Follow Henry County Goverment on Twitter.
	Subscribe to Henry County Government RSS feeds.