Two Boulder Creek High School students were recognized by their principal, school administrators and swim coaches for their quick instinctive efforts in administering first aid to a fellow classmate who was having a medical issue during class on the first day of school after summer break.
Seniors Aneesa Zerarka and Aaron Kroeger were in calculus class when a classmate appeared to be suffering a seizure. Both certified lifeguards and members of Boulder Creek’s Swim Team, Aneesa and Aaron went from student to lifeguard mode within seconds of recognizing their fellow peer was in distress.
Boulder Creek seniors Aneesa Zerarka (second from left) and Aaron Kroeger (second from right) were recently presented with the Excellence in Safety Award for their efforts in helping a fellow classmate during a medical emergency.
Aneesa immediately began supporting the student’s head, while Aaron began timing the length of the seizure. Together they worked as a team to keep their peer safe while instructing other classmates to clear a safe space around them until help arrived.
Both students were presented with the school’s first ever Excellence in Safety Award for their actions during an informal ceremony with their parents, coaches and school administrators in attendance.
Boulder Creek Principal Brittany Sutton told the students “You saw a need and you stepped in and we couldn’t be more proud of you. You made a huge difference.”
Both Aneesa and Aaron credited their training as lifeguards for their instinctive reactions.
“As lifeguards at the [Anthem] Community Center we run realistic scenarios like this all the time, so it was instinct to jump in… we knew what to do, and what the steps needed to be because we do that every day,” Aneesa told Valley Vibe.
But the best part, according to both students—their classmate was able to return to school the next day.
By Karen Goveia
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