ANGOLA - The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) Board of Education recently recognized Angelica De Carlo, a graduate of both North Collins High School and the E2CCB Lake Shore High School/Carrier Educational Center Career & Technical Academy, for her response following a medical emergency aboard a North Collins school bus.
De Carlo was recognized for her calm, quick and professional response to an incident that occurred on June 8 during the bus ride from North Collins Junior/Senior High School to the Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy in Angola. On that day, the driver began suffering from symptoms similar to that of a stroke or heart attack and pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. De Carlo, drawing upon her knowledge and experience as a student in the E2CCB Emergency Medical Services program offered at the Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy, immediately went into action.
First, De Carlo evaluated the driver's condition while keeping him calm and unafraid. She then contacted the paramedics to call for an ambulance as well as her mother, Diana, a certified EMT. At the same time, De Carlo kept the students calm and contacted both the Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy and the North Collins Central School District to keep school officials informed as to what was happening.
The bus driver was transported to the hospital without incident and has since recovered. In a letter, he thanked De Carlo for her intervention and her calm and confident demeanor.
"Being sick and afraid, it is comforting when someone else takes charge especially someone whom you feel confident and comfortable with," he said.
De Carlo's training and experience in the Lake Shore/Career Career & Technical Academy's two-year Emergency Medical Services program proved invaluable that day and she has been called a hero for her quick actions, calm demeanor and professional handling of the situation.
"The best gift you can give a teacher is to take what they taught and to use that in the real world. For that, we are so very proud of her," said Mary Schmidt, Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy supervisor.
Schmidt praised the E2CCB Board of Education for supporting the Emergency Medical Services program, which is offered at the Lake Shore/Carrier Career & Technical Academy and was the first such program of its kind in New York state. The program trains students in emergency response and prepares them for more advanced levels of training and for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and in CPR/first aid.
"Seven years ago, we came to you and said we have a new program we want to start and we want you to take a chance on the Emergency Medical Service program. And you did. And now we can see what a difference it's made," Schmidt told Board of Education members at the board's September meeting.
De Carlo is now a certified EMT.
