City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez last week presented a citation to Lisa Weidman, a school nurse who helped save a student’s life earlier this year.
Weidman worked for Bayada and was assigned for three years to Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences, 1197 Haworth St. in Northwood.
On April 16, after PSSA testing, sixth-graders went to a creative writing lecture. A student, Jada Rogers, slid out of her chair and became unresponsive, face down, on the floor.
Weidman, who was lunching with kindergarteners, rushed to the classroom, tried to wake Jada and took her pulse. After realizing Jada had no pulse, the nurse turned the student on her back and began performing CPR while ordering the other adults to call 911, all the while helping to maintain a calm scene.
Weidman used chest compressions and an automated external defibrillator until emergency medical technicians arrived. The EMTs took Jada to a hospital, where doctors were able to detect a heartbeat after an hour of care.
“Nurse Weidman is a hero,” Quinones-Sanchez told a group of students and staff.
Principal Judy Taggart and her staff surprised Weidman, who is on a leave of absence, bringing her into the gym for what was supposed to be a Christmas breakfast. The school presented her with flowers, and students rushed to hug her. The choir sung Cold Snap.
“This was a total surprise. I’m very appreciative of the entire school community,” Weidman said.
Jada was ill and not in school the day of the ceremony.
Weidman recently completed her nursing degree at Eastern University and will be hired by the Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences. ••
