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Beaumont officials honor school staff and firefighters after student revived by prompt CPR
Summary
City leaders recognized school coaches, an assistant principal and Beaumont firefighters whose training and rapid CPR and advanced life support helped revive a 12-year-old student twice in February; the student returned to school after receiving a pacemaker-defibrillator.
Mayor Voigt and the City Council presented certificates of recognition to school staff and Beaumont fire crews Tuesday for their roles in two February cardiac emergencies involving a 12-year-old student, identified in meeting remarks as Jaylene. Chief Hopkins told council that trained coaches performed continuous, effective CPR—about 42 seconds on one occasion and roughly 45 seconds on another—before firefighters and paramedics arrived and transported the student to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where doctors later implanted a pacemaker-defibrillator.
“Because of that training and because of the courage and quick thinking of dedicated educators, Jaylene is alive today,” Chief Hopkins said, summarizing the coordinated chain of bystander CPR, rapid ALS response, and hospital treatment. Chief Hopkins named school coaches Christine Veloso, Ashley Steele and Jody Hopkins, assistant principal Lauren Heising Gaspar, and fire personnel from Engines 106 and 22 for the response.
Jaylene’s mother addressed the council, thanking staff and first responders for the quick actions that restored her daughter’s pulse and allowed her to return to school. Mayor Voigt said the event underscored the value of CPR training for school personnel and praised “decisiveness, confidence and the ability to stay calm when seconds matter.”
Council members presented certificates and invited the family and responders for photos. The council encouraged continued investment in CPR training for educators and reiterated support for coordinated emergency response between school and public safety agencies.
The recognition required no council action beyond the presentation. The city did not provide additional medical details beyond what staff and the family reported.
