In Coweta County, a swift response from school staff saved a young life when a student at Northside Elementary School experienced a medical emergency on the morning of September 19.

As students were arriving for the day, a young student went into cardiac arrest, sparking a Code Blue alert and calling trained staff into action.

Just the Facts:

• Incident Timing: The medical emergency unfolded around 7:44 a.m. as students arrived for school.

• Location: Northside Elementary School.

• Emergency Details: A student suffered a severe cardiac event, initially showing signs of labored breathing that eventually stopped.

Rescue Response: Nurse Ashley Washington and teacher Emily Brockway, both on-site, acted quickly as the student’s condition worsened. After noticing the student’s breathing slowing, Washington initiated rescue breathing for three minutes until the student’s breathing stopped completely.

Following the respiratory failure, Washington and Brockway began CPR and applied an Automated External Defibrillator to deliver a shock, which helped restore the student’s pulse. Their efforts paid off as the student’s pulse returned, and breathing resumed by 7:58 a.m.

At its October meeting, the Coweta County Board of Education formally recognized Washington and Brockway for their life-saving efforts. The board praised their swift actions and emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness and having AEDs on school grounds.