It’s not every day, or even every year, that the employees at a high school have to deal with a medical emergency. But the staff of Streamwood High School, including Illinois School Nurse of the Year Mary Girardi, had to do that twice in one day Oct. 9. And last week the Elgin District U46 school board honored nine staff members and one student for their role in that effort.
“One of an educator’s greatest fears played out not once but twice on the same day,” said Principal Ariel Correa. “Both times our staff moved quickly into action, displaying stellar leadership skills and dedication to ensure these students would survive. The team cohesiveness was outstanding. My sincere thanks and praise go out to them.”
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In the first incident, district officials said, a student went into a grand mal seizure, which is a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions, during a morning class. The room was cleared while Girardi and support staff treated the student. The student was taken to a hospital by ambulance and was able to go home that day.
Later that same morning, a student stopped breathing in class. Associate Principal Brian Moran stepped in with a defibrillator while Dean Nick Baird and Streamwood police resource officer Steve Kisch administered CPR for approximately five minutes until an ambulance arrived. The student survived and has since returned to classes.
During this week’s school board meeting, district CEO Tony Sanders and board President Donna Smith honored Girardi, Kisch, Correa, Moran, Baird, Assistant Principal Nate McCoy, teachers Kerry Hanrahan, Shannon Henderson and Marie McLaughlin; and student Andres Rosiles.
Girardi was named the 2015 State School Nurse of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Nurses. She has been a certified nurse for 16 years and has worked at several elementary and middle schools throughout the district. This is her first year at Streamwood High.