Recognition of Chamberlain High School’s Heroes (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

The Division of Curriculum and Instruction Athletics Department is very pleased to recognize four employees for their role in saving the life of Chamberlain High School student-athlete, Kenneth Brooks.

Doug Aplin, varsity boys basketball coach

Jim Martin, varsity girls basketball coach

Ovett Wilson, assistant principal

Jene Bell , teacher and assistant varsity girls basketball coach

When Kenneth collapsed during practice the heroes simultaneously took the following actions:

1. Doug Aplin immediately began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) which had to be done through the nose, as the student-athlete’s mouth was full of blood.
2. Jim Martin retrieved the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a portable device used to restore normal heart rhythm.
3. Ovett Wilson called 911 and directed paramedics to the gymnasium.
4. Jene Bell pulled the Medical Release Card/Emergency Information and contacted Kenneth’s mother.

While this team of heroes worked together to deal with the situation, Coach Aplin then used the AED and continued to administer CPR until the paramedics arrived. These dedicated employees’ quick thinking and training saved the life of 17 year old student-athlete, Kenneth Brooks.

About 325,000 Americans suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year and more than 95% die before reaching the hospital. Use of CPR and the AED within 5-7 minutes of the incident increases the survival rate to as high as 49%. We thank these real-life heroes every day for their efforts, but particularly October 31, 2007, when they made life saving decisions for Kenneth Brooks.

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In 2003, the Hillsborough County School District received a grant that put at least one defibrillator in every public high school. Many schools have since purchased more defibrillators on their own. Training for use of the equipment is done annually at the individual school sites.