“It’s been a real sobering thought. What if you guys hadn’t been there.”
At MacArthur High School, more than a dozen students spend their afternoons skateboarding on the JROTC drill pad with their history teacher and Skate Club Sponsor, Adam Compton.
It’s a time for the students to see their teacher as more than just a history teacher, and it gives Compton the chance to get to know more about his students and really connect with them.
During one of their recent skate sessions, Compton went into cardiac arrest.
“We told him to breathe, and then he just became unresponsive.”
Those quick-thinking students jumped into action. A few tried keeping him alert and monitoring him, while others ran for help and called 911. Another student remembered a recent A-E-D scavenger hunt assignment from Health Class and ran to get the closest defibrillator.
MacArthur Athletic Trainer Amanda Boyd was in her office when the students ran in looking for help.
“They said, ‘Mr. Compton passed out. Can you help?’ And they took me right to him,” said Boyd. “He was on his side, and he was turning blue in color, and he looked like he had no life in him. I just checked for a pulse and could not find any.”
Boyd immediately started CPR.
After four or five rounds of compressions, Boyd and one of the students got the AED pads placed on Compton and shocked his heart into rhythm.
That’s when the paramedics arrived and took over.
Compton spent a week in the ICU recovering.
When he returned to campus, he wanted to see the students and the fellow teacher who helped save his life.
“I am just, I’m insanely grateful. I’m 46 years old, and I’ve got teenage kids and a wife and, so it’s been a real sobering thought. Just thinking about, like, what if you guys hadn’t been there? Thank you, guys. Pat yourselves on the back and everything. You can be very proud of yourselves.”
Compton still plans to skate with the club but will be taking it easier. He couldn’t be more thankful for the MacArthur community, which was there when he needed them most. He’s also thankful for his students’ quick actions, which have given him more time with them and his family.
“I’m really glad I was here and glad I’m still here. I look forward to skating more. I’m going to live life under 140 beats a minute now. But I’m only able to do it just because you guys jumped up and did it. So, thank you guys.”
