Idaho Teacher Encourages Others to Learn CPR After Emergency

Oct. 01--TWIN FALLS -- Marjie Atkins taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation for years, but she never expected to use it.

That changed Sept. 18 during a middle and high school cross-country invitational near Magic Mountain Resort.

Shelley Coach Rob Campbell, 63, collapsed while showing his middle schoolers the course.

He was having a heart attack. His students ran to Atkins for help.

She sent some students down the mountain to call 911 and started doing chest compressions.

Then an emergency medical technician volunteering at the event arrived with a defibrillator and a mask for mouth-to-mouth breathing. He delivered shocks with the defibrillator five times but couldn't restart Campbell's heart.

A few gathered to say a prayer. The ambulance arrived after 50 minutes of CPR and defibrillation.

Campbell, the principal of Sunrise Elementary School in Shelley, died that day.

But the responders did well, said his son, Ryan Campbell, head cross-country coach at Shelley's high school.

"He received good medical care for what's possible on the mountain."

Coaches considered canceling the invitational, but Shelley's team wanted to run in memory of their coach.

O'Leary's team was the only one to opt out, Atkins said. "It didn't feel right."

In the days that followed, Atkins received supportive emails from parents at Vera C. O'Leary Middle School, where she teaches history and coaches the cross-country team.

The tragic event affected her runners, Atkins said. One girl already has signed up to take a CPR class.

Pushing for More Training

The Twin Falls School District requires coaches to be certified in CPR and first aid. It's optional for other school employees.

Atkins taught CPR for more than 15 years through the American Red Cross and Safety First. She also has led many training sessions at O'Leary and encourages school employees to become certified.

One year, Atkins' Prime Time class made more than 60 first aid kits, one for every home room. She keeps a large first aid kit in her classroom and has used it several times for minor injuries.

"With close to 900 kids, I'm the closest nurse there is."

The district only has two nurses, contracted through St. Luke's Magic Valley and rotated among 13 schools.

At Morningside Elementary, Vice Principal Michelle Brewer sometimes acts as school nurse.

She has EMT basic certification and was a volunteer EMT in Buhl and Filer for years but scaled back due to her school responsibilities.

This fall, Morningside Elementary received a $500 grant from Western States Bus Services to buy an automated external defibrillator.

Brewer applied for the grant partly because three Morningside students this year have heart conditions.

"I thought this would be important."

The defibrillator cost nearly $1,700. The school paid the bulk of the cost, and eight Morningside employees are trained to use it.

Since becoming vice principal four years ago, Brewer said, she has updated the first aid kits and talked with playground aides about when to call her if a student is injured.

"I've kind of increased training on that end."

Copyright 2014 - The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho