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Annual Report 2018-19

Quick Thinking Students and Staff
at SUNY Niagara Save Life of Employee

On the afternoon of Thursday, November 8th, SUNY Niagara Public Safety received a radio transmission regarding a male down in one of the academic buildings on campus.  Upon responding to the call, campus security officers, Lynda Haner-Mele and Ryan Newton discovered multiple people already on scene assisting with the unresponsive individual.

A Niagara County Sheriff’s Officer witnessed the victim collapsing to the floor in one of the academic buildings on campus and shortly afterwards, first year nursing student, Sarie Muscarella assisted the officer by checking vitals and providing initial CPR efforts until an automated external defibrillator (AED) could be located by another student.  A nearby faculty member acted quickly by running to alert Wellness Center employees, Cheri Yager and Michael Campagna who were instrumental in providing lifesaving AED assistance, and Campagna assisted Sheriff’s Deputies in providing chest compressions.  By the time EMT’s from Tri-Community Ambulance and the Sanborn Fire Company arrived, the victim regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for further care.

Sarie Muscarella

From left to right: Cynthia O’Keefe Allsop, Nursing Faculty Member, Sarie Muscarella and Diane Pytlik-Flammia, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for Nursing and Allied Health

President Murabito held a ceremony on Thursday, December 6th to acknowledge the quick thinking and skilled efforts by the students and staff of SUNY Niagara, as well as the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, Tri-Community Ambulance, and the Sanborn Fire Company.  Sarie Muscarella, the student initially on scene assisting the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department was also recognized by the SUNY Niagara nursing program.

Muscarella credits her family’s CPR training business, and the SUNY Niagara nursing program with giving her the skills to react and provide assistance during the emergency.  She is planning to obtain her RN certification from SUNY Niagara and continue on to get her BSN, and is considering a career as an emergency room nurse.  Muscarella’s advice is, “You don’t have to be in the medical field to save a life.  I recommend CPR training or basic first aid to everyone.”  Nursing professor, Cynthia O’Keefe-Allsop states, “The nursing program at SUNY Niagara is very proud of Sarie for using her critical thinking and basic life support skills during an emergency situation.  She emulates what we desire from a SUNY Niagara nursing student and is a welcome addition to our program. Sarie is truly a life saver.”