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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> <br /> Meeting Date: June 19, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-c <br />SUBJECT: Recognition of Community Heroes <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Kim Woodward, 919-245-6133 <br /> Dinah Jeffries, 919-245-6123 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To commend recent lifesaving actions by Orange County residents with recognition <br />and with the presentation of certificates to those who provided assistance. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: Two recent incidents that could have ended in tragedy in Orange County <br />instead had much happier endings, thanks to quick reactions by Orange County residents <br /> <br />On Saturday, May 12, 2018, the Tyson family was enjoying an afternoon at the Churton Grove <br />community pool. The youngest member of the family, Parker, 4, was found unresponsive in the <br />pool. His father, David Tyson, reacted immediately and pulled Parker out of the water. Dr. Anita <br />Skariah, a local physician, was on the scene and rushed to provide assistance. Gabe Walker, <br />an Orange High School student with CPR training, also started assisting. Dr. Skariah confirmed <br />the Parker was not breathing and did not have a pulse. CPR was initiated and the child became <br />responsive after two and a half minutes. <br /> <br />Fire and EMS resources were on scene quickly and assumed care of Parker. Parker was then <br />transported to the hospital and has since made a full recovery. This full recovery was possible <br />because every link in the chain of survival was in place. <br /> <br />Parker’s parents requested that Dr. Skariah, Gabe Walker, and the public safety providers who <br />provided lifesaving care should be publically recognized. The Tyson family is unavailable for <br />this meeting due to a previously planned vacation, but did provide a recorded thank you video <br />that will be shared at the meeting. <br /> <br />Telecommunicators who processed the 911 call, the Orange Rural Fire Fighters and the Orange <br />County EMS providers who responded on May 12th have all been invited to the meeting. <br /> <br />A week later, two Chapel Hill residents likely saved a young girl from drowning when they <br />responded to a call for help. Savannah Jastram and Norman Picard saw two young girls in the <br />University Garden Apartments pool on Pritchard Avenue Extension around 9:15 p.m. on <br />1