\u201cAdrian experienced a choking incident at school that led to lifesaving efforts by the school nurse. These efforts included the Heimlich maneuver, the use of a Life Vac device, and then CPR,\u201d Surratt said in the letter. \u201cA 911 call was placed and first responders arrived quickly to continue emergency care. Adrian was then transported for medical treatment and later transferred to Cook Children\u2019s Medical Center in Fort Worth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adrian died in the early morning hours of April 16. She was in the second grade at Velma Penny.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAs we continue to process this tremendous loss, Adrian\u2019s family, the teachers, the staff of Velma Penny Elementary, and the entire Lindale ISD community remain in mourning,\u201d Surratt said.<\/p>\n Surratt said the district met with<\/a> the young girl\u2019s father, Greg Sher, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring our meeting, he demonstrated strength, grace, and love that is difficult to adequately express in words,\u201d Surratt said. \u201cThe purpose of the meeting was to provide the family with information and details related to this heartbreaking event.\u201d<\/p>\n In an audio file released to our news partners at CBS19<\/a>, a 911 call details a portion of the emergency response as Adrian suffered the emergency on campus April 15.<\/p>\n With permission from Adrian\u2019s family, the full recording of the 911 call is published to cbs19.tv<\/a> and tylerpaper.com<\/a>. Viewer and listener discretion is advised. The content of the call is summarized below.<\/p>\n In the audio, a call-taker answers the phone, asking if the caller needs fire, police or EMS. The caller says \u201cEMS \u2013 we have a student choking \u2013 a child choking \u2013 in the nurses\u2019 station at Velma Penny Elementary School.\u201d<\/p>\n The call-taker immediately asks the caller to stay on the line as she transfers the call to EMS. As three rings go by, the caller speaks to another Lindale ISD employee suggesting a lockdown, as the other employee says to \u201cpray, pray, pray \u2026 Dear God.\u201d On the fourth ring, EMS picks up the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEMS?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have a child who\u2019s choking, hello? Hello? This is Donni Cook,\u201d the caller states.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d the EMS dispatcher says.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Donni Cook, the principal at Velma Penny, we have a child that\u2019s choking in the nurses\u2019 station that they cannot \u2013 the Heimlich \u2013 the child\u2019s choking, we need help, fast \u2013 fast,\u201d Cook says in the audio recording.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the address, ma\u2019am?\u201d the EMS dispatcher asks.<\/p>\n \u201c1000 Mt. Sylvan, Lindale,\u201d Cook replies.<\/p>\n The EMS dispatcher can be heard typing on a keyboard. The dispatcher again asks what school, to which Cook responds, \u201cVelma Penny Elementary School.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The dispatcher asks the number Cook is calling from. Meanwhile, Cook is speaking to a person in the room with her, saying the school should\u2019ve done a \u201chold, not a lockdown.\u201d The dispatcher again requests the number, and Cook responds with the number she\u2019s calling from.\u00a0<\/p>\n The dispatcher asks if Cook is in the room with the patient, and she says no, she\u2019s in her office across the hall. \u201cThe nurse is with them,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did she choke on, do you know?\u201d the dispatcher asks.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea,\u201d Cook answers. \u201cThey ran and told me to call 911. We have a child that\u2019s choking and they\u2019re not getting her to breathe with the Heimlich.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d the dispatcher says. \u201cOK ma\u2019am, we\u2019ll get them on the way.\u201d The dispatcher asks Cook to have someone ready to meet EMS when first responders arrive on campus to direct them to where the child is. Cook hurriedly confirms, says thank you and hangs up.<\/p>\n Surratt called the staffers\u2019 and first responders\u2019 efforts courageous.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to commend the efforts of our staff members, teacher aides, Nurse Fountain, and first responders who acted swiftly and courageously in their efforts to try to save Adrian,\u201d he said. \u201cOur hearts go out to her parents, Anna and Greg, as they endure a grief no parent should ever have to face. Adrian was a precious daughter, student, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.\u201d<\/p>\n The district said it has life-saving measures in place but will outsource a review of their current procedures.<\/p>\n \u201cI also want to reassure our parents and community that Lindale ISD has lifesaving devices, safety measures, and procedures in place to respond to medical emergencies,\u201d Surratt said. \u201cWe pray that no family or our school community ever has to endure a tragedy like this again.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the Rangers\u2019 investigation, Lindale ISD will seek an independent outside entity \u201cto review our safety equipment, emergency response measures, and procedures,\u201d Surratt said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome this evaluation so that we may identify both our strengths and any possible areas where improvements can be made,\u201d Surratt said. \u201cWe are committed to transparency and will share this report with the Thompson family, our staff, parents, and community.\u201d<\/p>\n Lindale ISD also plans to develop a strategic plan to strengthen and expand emergency response training for all staff members.<\/p>\n \u201cAdrian Thompson was a precious Lindale Eagle, and we will honor her memory by doing everything possible to make our schools even safer and stronger,\u201d Surratt said.<\/p>\n
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