Eleven Ephrata High staff recognized for life-saving actions

EPHRATA — Eleven Ephrata High School staff were recognized in early January for their response to a life-threatening medical event suffered by a fellow staff member who was not named by the district. Officials credited EHS nurse Pam Cleveringa with training staff with the skills that saved the staff member’s life. 

“Our school nurse, Pam Cleveringa, does an amazing job teaching these classes across all our schools,” said EHS Principal Aaron Cummings. “Being able to trust in our training was an amazing feeling in the heat of the emergency. We knew what we needed to do and worked together to get it done.”

Thad Evans, Heidi Burns, Jeff Allsopp, Anna Canet, Romen Hernandez, Pam Cleveringa, David Mckeehan, Jacob Pearce, Aaron Cummings, Dave Laird and Charlotte Throgmorton were awarded the Ephrata School District’s “Excellence Award” for their efforts Dec. 6 of last year. An EHS staff member suffered a major cardiac episode during a physical education class in the Beezley Gymnasium. The staff mentioned before used training provided by Cleveringa and other sources to initiate CPR and relay important information to first responders. They also removed students from the gym and alerted the staff member’s family. Efforts were taken to ensure students weren’t unduly stressed by the event as well, according to the Ephrata School District statement. 

Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns said in the statement that the steps taken to ensure their colleague’s safety were commendable and aided first responders in helping the ailing staff member. 

“The actions that fell into place that day happened at the snap of a finger,” said Burns. “The teachers, paraeducators and staff present that day all had the mentality to jump in and help. It’s clear to me that they saved a life that day.”