Northport HS Staff Save Man's Life, Receive Honors

NORTHPORT, NY — Several members of the Northport-East Northport school district staff were recognized during Thursday's Board of Education meeting thanks to their actions that saved a visitor’s life in November, the school district announced.

Coaches Andrew D’Eloia and Michael Greenblatt, as well as security guard Shawn Gallagher, health teacher Tracey Braun, and athletic trainer Shawn Scattergood were each recognized for their actions and work to provide CPR and AED training by the board, as well as the Acompora family, who are responsible for the advocacy that led to Louis’s Law, requiring AEDs in schools.

Eastern Suffolk BOCES nurse educator Deirdre Petit, who also played a significant role in savings the visitor's life, was also recognized.

During the NYSSMA All-County Concert at Northport High School on Nov. 17, Smithtown parent Robert Strzelczyk suddenly collapsed. Strzelczyk was in attendance to watch his daughter perform at the event, but as he was walking down the NHS hallway, he fell and stopped breathing.

Gallagher immediately retrieved the AED and alerted boys varsity basketball head coach D’Eloia
and assistant coach Greenblatt, who were in the middle of an evening practice, to help administer aid.

Without hesitation, Greenblatt began administering CPR and chest compressions as D’Eloia began assembling the AED. As chest compressions began, Petit, who also was in attendance by coincidence, became aware of the situation and worked alongside the coaches to administer aid.

The coaches then used the AED, at which point Strzelczyk began breathing just as paramedics and police arrived.

When discussing the situation, both D’Eloia and Greenblatt emphasized the team effort, from both those in attendance and those leading up to these events, that played a role in saving Strzelczyk’s life.

"The word that summarizes it is 'teamwork,'" D’Eloia said. "It’s what Northport is all about."

D’Eloia and Greenblatt also acknowledged that the presence of AEDs in schools cannot be discussed without emphasizing the work of the Acompora family, whose son Louis tragically died during a Northport High School lacrosse game because of cardiac arrest.

The family started the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation and in 2002, Louis’s Law was passed, mandating that AEDs are available in all New York State schools.

"Louis’s spirit lives on," D’Eloia said. "In essence, he saved another life."

Greenblatt shared that the combination of D’Eloia’s "calm demeanor," nurse Petit’s guidance and expertise, and the rapid arrival and response of the paramedics and police were crucial to preventing a tragedy. He also recognized that many people indirectly played an important role, including Scattergood, who ensures all teams have their AEDs and the Acompora family for their work in advocacy.

Greenblatt reiterated that CPR and AED training provided by health teacher Braun was critical, saying "Andrew and I both heard her in our heads" as the situation was unfolding.

Strzelczyk’s wife Debra expressed deep appreciation for those who stepped up to save her husband’s life. She said her husband "is doing miraculously well."

"The hospital staff was thrilled as it is not the typical outcome," she said. "The entire staff that treated him said if it wasn’t for the AED, he wouldn’t have survived."

During the Board meeting, Superintendent Robert Banzer acknowledged that the district has worked hard to implement a culture that understands the importance of AED and CPR awareness and that many people, including those being recognized, were an incredibly important part of instilling that culture.

Each honoree received a certificate from the Board and an award from the Acompora Foundation.