Home News Circleville Firefighters Recognized for Life Saving Effort of a Circleville Girl

Circleville Firefighters Recognized for Life Saving Effort of a Circleville Girl

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CIRCLEVILLE – In November Circleville Police Department awarded the Sergeant an award for his part in saving a 14 year old students life who went unresponsive during a Circleville High School. Yesterday February 12, 2020 Fire Chief Brian Thompson said that he wanted to make sure others who were involved in the incident were also rewarded for their efforts to save the girl, but until today had no method to do that.

On October 12, 2019 During Circleville High Schools Homecoming Dance a 14-year old student fell into cardiac arrest and went unresponsive in the middle of the dance floor.

Sergeant Mathew Hafey of Circleville Police Department who was working special duty that night immediately responded with CPR. Because of the Sergeants training he could tell that her heart had stopped and he would have to use the AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillator).

After a AED is installed it detects heart-rate and recommends defibrillation if no heart beat is detected. This was the case with the 14 year old student, the defibrillator worked and brought the teens heart back into rhythm.

Circleville Fire/EMT firefighters Captain Scott Cavanugh, Lieutenant Micheal Shroyer, Kendall Leland, and Laura Bray arrived at the scene quickly, helped stabilize the girl, and transported her to Berger Hospital. She was then emergency helicoptered to Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

Later it was learned that she suffered from a unknown heart defect from birth, that her or her family was aware of. Since then she has had heart surgery, and the doctors were able to repair her heart defect. She is expected now to make a full recovery.

Doctors advised that Both Hafey’s and First Responders actions with immediate CPR and immediate use of the AEP prevented any further heart damage or brain damage from the event, and saved her life.