Herricks Staff Members Recognized For Saving Student’s Life

Eight staff members at Herricks Middle School were awarded the New York State Senate’s Liberty Medal for saving the life of a student who suffered a cardiac arrest during gym class last month.

Eighth grader Sanketh Kumar was running the track in gym class on Sept. 14 when he suddenly collapsed, stopped breathing and had a fading pulse.

A team of Herricks staff members called 911, began administering CPR and used an automated external defibrillator to restart his heart. Paramedics arrived shortly after and took Kumar to the hospital. The boy is now back at school and attended the ceremony honoring the staff members who saved his life.

“Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, because the difference between life and death is only a matter of minutes,” said Senator Jack Martins, who awarded the medal to the staff members Tuesday. “The immediate and coordinated response by these eight men and women, working as a team, undoubtedly saved a young boy’s life and prevented a tragedy.”

The eight staff members who were labeled as “Herricks Heroes” include:

• Tom Aird— Assistant Principal
• Tracey Baumann— Nurse
• Artie Friess— Physical education teacher
• Dennis Horton— Physical education teacher
• Joan Keegan— Principal
• Dana Lieberman— Nurse
• Pam Seebald— Physical education teacher
• Joe Welsh— Physical education teacher

The New York State Senate Liberty Medal is the highest civilian honor a New Yorker can receive. Those who receive this award have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.

“The Herricks School District has been very proactive in training staff in CPR/AED use and this shows exactly why that’s so important,” Martins said. “Congratulations to these ‘Herricks Heroes’ and the Herricks School District on a job well done.”

Image via Office of Senator Martins: Eighth grader Sanketh Kumar pictured with the Herricks staff members who saved his life.