Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 16, 2025 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Recognition of the Heroic Actions of A.L. Stanback Middle School Staff During a <br /> Cardiac Arrest Response <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> A.L. Stanback Staff Participants Kirby Saunders, Emergency Services <br /> Director, 919-245-6100 <br /> Kim Woodward, Emergency Medical <br /> Services Division Chief, 919-245- <br /> 6100 <br /> PURPOSE: To recognize the heroic actions of staff at A.L. Stanback Middle School during a <br /> cardiac arrest response. <br /> BACKGROUND: The following information is shared after the Emergency Services Department <br /> obtained permission via a fully executed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act <br /> (HIPAA) release signed by the patient's guardian. <br /> On June 5, 2025, 14-year-old David Gonzalez Rubio, an A.L. Stanback Middle School student, <br /> was playing in the school gymnasium and suddenly collapsed. A teacher saw David on the floor <br /> of the gymnasium, quickly recognized David was not responding, and called for help. In under <br /> one minute, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. The school nurse, school <br /> resource officer, the assistant principal and several other individuals rushed to the David's aid. An <br /> Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) was quickly accessed and applied, and the coordinated <br /> team was able to administer the defibrillation. David began to show signs of life after the school <br /> nurse began compressions post defibrillation. Fire and emergency medical services personnel <br /> arrived only four minutes after the 911 call was received, and David had already regained full <br /> neurologic function. <br /> This amazing response demonstrates how a young life was saved because all the links in the <br /> chain of survival were present. The preparedness and actions of A.L. Stanback staff deserve the <br /> highest recognition and praise. These individuals' actions saved the life of this young student. <br /> Orange County is fortunate to have a school nurse in all schools and AEDs in schools and many <br /> public buildings. School nurses play a vital role in supporting student safety and health in Orange <br /> County. These nurses provide staff training in emergency response, CPR, First Aid, and AED use. <br /> In addition, the nurses develop health plans and emergency action plans, share this critical <br />