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First-year nursing student Sarie Muscarella receives a certificate for outstanding service for her role in providing life-saving CPR on a NCCC employee.  From left, Cynthia O'Keefe Allsop, nursing faculty member; Muscarella and Diane Roth, assistant vice president of Academic Affairs for Nursing and Allied Health.
First-year nursing student Sarie Muscarella receives a certificate for outstanding service for her role in providing life-saving CPR on a NCCC employee. From left, Cynthia O'Keefe Allsop, nursing faculty member; Muscarella and Diane Roth, assistant vice president of Academic Affairs for Nursing and Allied Health.

Quick thinking students and staff at NCCC save life

Thu, Dec 13th 2018 03:10 pm

On the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 8, Niagara County Community College Public Safety received a radio transmission regarding a male down in one of the academic buildings on campus.  Upon responding to the call, campus security officers Linda Haner-Mele and Ryan Newton discovered multiple people already on scene assisting with the unresponsive individual. 

A Niagara County Sheriffs deputy witnessed the victim collapsing to the floor in one of the academic buildings on campus and shortly afterwards, first-year nursing student Sarie Muscarella assisted the deputy by checking vitals and providing initial CPR efforts until an automated external defibrillator could be located by another student.  A nearby faculty member acted quickly by running to alert Wellness Center employees, Cheri Yager and Michael Campagna who were instrumental in providing lifesaving AED assistance, and Campagna assisted sheriffs deputies in providing chest compressions.  By the time EMT’s from Tri Community Ambulance and the Sanborn Fire Company arrived, the victim regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for further care. 

NCCC President William Murabito held a ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 6 to acknowledge the quick thinking and skilled efforts by the students and staff of NCCC, as well as the Niagara County Sheriffs Office, Tri Community Ambulance, and the Sanborn Fire Company. Muscarella, the student initially on scene assisting the Niagara County Sheriffs Office was also recognized by the NCCC nursing program. 

Muscarella credits her family’s CPR training business, and the NCCC nursing program with giving her the skills to react and provide assistance during the emergency.  She is planning to obtain her RN certification from NCCC and continue on to get her BSN, and is considering a career as an emergency room nurse.  Muscarella’s advice was, “You don’t have to be in the medical field to save a life.  I recommend CPR training or basic first aid to everyone.” 

Nursing professor Cynthia O’Keefe-Allsop said, “The nursing program at NCCC is very proud of Sarie for using her critical thinking and basic life support skills during an emergency situation.  She emulates what we desire from a NCCC nursing student and is a welcome addition to our program. Sarie is truly a life saver.” 

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