Cone Health presented emergency workers today at Piedmont Triad International Airport with donated defibrillator equipment in honor of their efforts on the evening of December 7th that saved the life of a young girl.
“We are honoring today the emergency service workers at Piedmont Triad International Airport for their heroic efforts which saved the life of Tayah McClure, a 4-year-old young lady who went into cardiac arrest at the airport while waiting for her father to return from a trip,” said Dr. Michael Simmons, the pediatric critical care physician who joined Dr. Tim Galey, pediatric emergency room physician, in caring for Tayah at The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.
“I am convinced that if these professionals had not acted as quickly and decisively as they did, this young girl would not be with us today,” Dr. Simmons said. “At Cone Health, we care deeply about our community. We believe it is important to recognize health professionals in the community who do us all proud.”
Tayah McClure was waiting near the US Airways ticket counter with her mother when a ticket agent with US Airways noticed that something was wrong with the girl. The agent flagged down officer Lisa Allred of the Airport Police Department. The officer saw that the child was not breathing and had no pulse.
Allred immediately started compressions on the child as a crowd of onlookers gathered around. As the officer continued CPR, Captain Greg Ramey of the Airport Police arrived. Within two minutes, Airport firefighters also arrived on the scene. Lt. Wayne Sutherland and Fire Fighter Robert Marley took over CPR while Allred went to escort the child’s father from the airplane and bring him to the scene.
Greensboro Fire Department Engine 17 also responded to the call and was on the scene at about the same time. The team of emergency workers applied a defibrillator, which revived the girl and produced an irregular heartbeat. Eventually, her heartbeat stabilized and Guilford County EMS arrived to take the girl to the hospital.
“Tayah arrived at the hospital in very good shape,” said Dr. Simmons. “A specialist at Baptist Hospital has since implanted a defibrillator in the child that should keep this from happening again.”
“Cone Health is pleased to present this new defibrillator equipment to the Airport Authority as a symbol of our respect for the quick thinking and professionalism of these dedicated professionals,” said Tim Rice, CEO of Cone Health. “We hope they never need this equipment, but they will have it just in case.”