Focus on TUSD - May 2007

Borman Staffers Administer CPR to Unresponsive Infant
A trio of Borman Elementary School staff did double duty as lifesavers last month when they helped revive an infant at their school.

They administered CPR after a daycare provider unexpectedly ran into the first classroom she could find with the unresponsive 8-week-old child. She'd been waiting in the parking lot for classes to dismiss when the baby under her care began coughing up blood and stopped breathing.

She ran into the second-grade classroom of Kim Thomas, who immediately began CPR and notified the school office, which then called emergency services. Beth Larson, the Borman nurse, rushed to the room, along with Alice Rotchstein, the health assistant. The three women continued their lifesaving efforts for the next 10 minutes. Shortly before paramedics arrived, the baby began breathing. The emergency crew helped stabilize the baby and took him to a local hospital.

Borman Principal Chad Knippen, who was at the scene, said, "When the paramedics arrived, the child was just beginning to cry. It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. When it was over, we realized we didn't even have the name of the child or daycare provider involved. These were not students or parents of kids in our school, just members of the community who needed help."

The baby's parents, who are active-duty Davis-Monthan Air Force Base employees, asked to not have their identity or that of their child revealed, along with the daycare provider. Borman is located on the base.

But Knippen wanted the Borman staff to be recognized for their efforts. They received certificates at the TUSD Quarterly Awards and Recognition Ceremony earlier this month.
"I am very proud to work with such amazing people who do an incredible job of educating our kids," he said. "The fact that they can step up in an emergency situation and save the life of a child made them even more special."

-- The Desert Lightning News at the Davis-Monthan AFB contributed to this story.

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

All photos in the May issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations.

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