November 30, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Karen Fowler, Regional Manager for Advanced Correctional Healthcare presented a “Life Saving Award” to DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department correctional officers and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) on Friday, November 30, 2018.
On July 27,2018, inmates at the DeKalb County Jail alerted nearby correctional officers that another inmate was experiencing seizure-like activity. Correctional Officer Chris Singleton and Correctional Officer Jordan Whitehead responded to the patient’s holding cell.
The officers immediately moved the patient off his bunk and placed him on the floor. Nurse Christina Arnold, LPN for Advanced Correctional Healthcare, arrived at the patient’s cell where she evaluated the patient and determined he was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Nurse Arnold, with assistance from Officer Singleton, began CPR. During this time, Correctional Officer Justin Bass called for DeKalb Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and brought an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to the patient. Nurse Arnold and Officer Singleton delivered one shock to the patient and continued CPR until EMS arrived.
When EMS arrived, they delivered 3 more shocks to the patient and then loaded the patient into the ambulance where the crew continued to attempt resuscitation. Inside the ambulance, the patient did re-gain pulse, became responsive, and began speaking with the EMS crew and officers who were still with him.
“It is with great respect, that I present Nurse Christina Arnold with the “Golden Stethoscope Award” and this certificate. Thank you for all you do for Advanced Correctional Healthcare. Nurse Arnold could not have succeeded in saving the patient’s life had it not been for the assistance of Officer Chris Singleton, Officer Justin Bass, and Officer Jordan Whitehead. I am pleased to present this “Life Saving Award” for the outstanding actions to these officers for their heroic actions that day. Thank you for the continued partnership with Advanced Correctional Healthcare,” Fowler concluded.
Sheriff Patrick Ray also commends his correctional officers and Nurse Arnold for their lifesaving efforts. “I am very proud of our correctional officers and Nurse Arnold for their quick response to the medical needs of this inmate. This is the type of event that we hope to never have, but it’s exactly why we train and educate our officers to be prepared to initially respond to such medical emergencies in the jail. I also want to recognize the DeKalb EMS crew that continued patient care and was part of this successful outcome. Prior to this recognition by Advanced Correctional Healthcare, we took the opportunity to recognize these three correctional officers during an employee meeting we had in August.
Our department is proud of the working relationships we have with all the employees of Advanced Correctional Healthcare, especially the Nurses here at the Jail. All of them go the “extra mile” for us and the inmates here at the jail,” said Sheriff Ray.