A 9-year-old girl who suffered a cardiac event at Jay Peak Resort last month is recovering thanks to the quick response of park staff, a statement released by the resort said.
On Christmas Eve, the child, who was with her father and mother at the Pumphouse Indoor Waterpark, was found unconscious and unresponsive by several Jay Peak staff members.
They immediately began performing chest compressions, provided oxygen and support as well as crowd control, and ended up resuscitating the young girl and bringing her back.
She was transported to North Country Hospital, then to the pediatric unit at UVM Hospital in Burlington.
It is believed she suffered a cardiac event prior to becoming unconscious, and that it was not a water-related accident.
In a message of appreciation sent out to staff, Jay Peak President and General Manager Steve Wright said the girl was home now with her parents recovering.
Wright says the response was the result of the consistent and thorough training done at Jay Peak.
Park staff members involved in the response include Juan Ignacio Garcia, Miles Mason, Chelsea-Mitchel-Eby, Brieanna Niles, Sam Cota, Jill Czelusta, Felipe Hormazabal, Andres Nazer Blaset, Hazel Paxman, and Tyler Paxman.
Safety and Risk Director Tom Howell says that at any given time, there could be more than 5,000 people at the resort counting on them.
Howell says many employees are also EMTs.
“On behalf of the entire resort, and unofficially on behalf of the parents of this young girl, I offer my sincere appreciation and admiration for the Christmas Eve work of all of those involved with this save,” Wright said. “Because of your heroism, a family gets to focus on making more memories together and gets to start the new year as grateful as any family could be.”