On Monday, March 10, Tinley Baranowski[mfn]wzzm13.com[/mfn], a first-grade student at Jeffers Elementary School in Spring Lake, started her day energetically, looking forward to school after a nourishing breakfast. Her father, Paul, described the routine morning, including dropping Tinley off at school and then his son at daycare. However, shortly after leaving Tinley at school, Paul received a distressing call from Jeffers informing him that Tinley had collapsed and was being treated with an AED due to a cardiac arrest that occurred just moments after he had said goodbye.
The quick action by the school staff, particularly PE teacher Alec Lininger, known as Coach L, was pivotal. Coach L detailed how Tinley was visibly struggling and that they immediately knew to use the AED alongside performing CPR, actions that were crucial in her revival.
Tinley’s medical background includes a complex congenital heart defect identified when she was a year old, leading to a significant hospital stay that involved multiple surgeries and a prolonged cardiac arrest at 13 months. Despite these challenges, Tinley had been growing normally without further incidents, thanks in part to the preparedness of her school’s staff, who had recently undergone CPR and AED training.
Transferred to the University of Michigan CS Mott Children’s Hospital for care, Tinley’s sudden ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) caught everyone by surprise. Her condition is still under investigation by her medical team in Ann Arbor. Despite the severity of the incident, Tinley’s resilience shines through her eagerness to return to school.
The swift and effective response from the school, especially the use of the AED, is hailed by Tinley’s parents and medical professionals alike as miraculous. Coach L credits his training for his readiness and emphasizes the responsibility of school staff to ensure student safety. Tinley’s story is a testament to the critical importance of AEDs and preparedness in schools, underscoring the lifesaving impact of immediate and knowledgeable intervention.
Source: Holland, A. (2024). School staff saved West Michigan 1st-grader from cardiac arrest. (WZZM13).
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