Two Teen Girls Save P.E. Teacher's Life

July 23, 2024 by Cathy Stack

DETROIT—Two teen girls saved the life of their teacher by using CPR skills and acting quickly during a medical emergency.

Isreal DuBose, 17, and Correy Coleman, 16 – juniors at Oak Park High School in metro Detroit – reacted quickly when their P.E. teacher, Alfred Kattola, collapsed during a student-teacher basketball game.

The girls had been sitting in the bleachers when Alfred collapsed. They had recently taken a CPR course and knew there was little time to waste. Without hesitation, they rushed over to Alfred’s side to assess the situation and offer help until the first responders could arrive on scene. Isreal performed life-saving chest compressions while Correy ran to get the automated external defibrillator (AED) that she used to restore Alfred’s heartbeat.

Alfred recalled feeling a strange sensation come over him during the game. Medical professionals later confirmed that he had suffered cardiac arrest, which stops circulation and heart function due to a problem with the heart's electrical system. Cardiac arrest could result in death without immediate intervention. CPR and use of an AED greatly improves a sufferer’s chances of survival until first responders arrive on scene.

“Medically, I was gone,” Alfred said of his frightening brush with death.

Only a few months prior, Isreal and Correy learned CPR and first aid during their health science class. CPR includes chest compressions, often combined with mouth-to-mouth ventilation, to restore blood circulation and breathing in an unresponsive person.

“We’re sitting in the bleachers…I just knew I had to do something,” Isreal recalled.

Isreal assessed the situation and initiated the ‘chain of survival’ steps that her recent CPR training taught her. The following steps must occur in rapid succession: Dialing 911; providing CPR; and applying rapid defibrillation using an AED. This combination of CPR paired with AED technology saves lives up to 40 percent of the time. According to the American Heart Association, survival rates decline by 7-10 percent for each minute of delay in defibrillation.

School staff called 911 and waited outside to escort medical responders directly to the gym. Correy frantically retrieved the AED and rushed it back to Alfred’s side.

“I began compressions and, around two and a half rounds of compressions, the AED was brought in and Correy then placed the AED pads,” recalled Isreal.

The girls used the AED’s recorded audio instructions to help guide them. They placed the AED pads in the correct location on Alfred’s chest to shock his heart back to a healthy rhythm. First responders then arrived at the scene and transported Alfred to a local hospital.

The school hosted an event to honor the teens for their life-saving actions, and they reunited with Alfred at the event.

“I don't have too much to say other than I love you guys,” Alfred said during their heartwarming reunion. Alfred gave both girls a hug to express his gratitude for having the courage and fortitude to act when it mattered most.

Alfred said he hopes to help the girls pursue a career in the medical field since they obviously have what it takes to excel in it.

“Until something happens, you don’t know how you’ll react,” said Isreal, who plans to study nursing. “I’m so proud and grateful I was able to be there, act quickly and start delivering compressions right away.”

“We thought we might use it at some point in our lives, but not that soon,” Correy admitted.

“I feel so proud that they not only learned the skill, but they felt confident in the skill to perform it in an emergency situation,” shared Angie Shaw, a registered nurse at the school.

Alfred returned to work the following week, grateful to be alive and well.

Corewell Health Children’s Student Heart Check has donated 79 AEDS to schools throughout the state. The organization also assists schools in creating cardiac response plans so that staff and students know where to locate AEDs in their schools and how to use them.

The Foundation for a Better Life and PassItOn.com believe that Isreal DuBose and Correy Coleman are true heroes for reacting quickly and applying their CPR skills to save their teacher’s life. Their actions are a great example of the value of courage. Please help celebrate Isreal and Correy by sharing their story.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/WzEfcGlgHrM?si=vwz9rgywFxFWU7AG

Please tell us about your everyday hero. The heroes among us are ordinary people whose actions leave a lasting and positive impact in their communities and demonstrate the potential in all of us. Their heroic acts uphold our shared values. Help honor these individuals by creating a billboard and sharing their story at: www.passiton.com/your-billboards/create