Atkins teacher saves 6-year-old student using CPR

Atkins teacher saves 6-year-old student using CPR
Officials said a fast-acting teacher at Atkins Elementary School was able to save a student’s life using CPR after she collapsed.

The incident happened on Dec. 4 when P.E. Teacher Emiliano Torres says his student 6-year-old Payton Sisco collapsed during his class in the gym when she was jogging.

“When I looked at her face and her eyes had rolled back and she looked like she was convulsing,” Torres said. 

Torres is used to handling different situations in the gym, but he says this moment was scary.

“She wasn’t breathing,” Torres described. “Her face was turning a very deep purple.”

He said he radioed in for help and reacted quickly by using his training with CPR.

“It was very scary,” Torres said. “I knew every second counted, it just kicked in my training and doing my compressions.”

Sisco’s mother Meghan Sisco also works at the elementary school and says she heard him on the walkie and ran to the gym.

“She had actually just come to after I got in there,” Sisco said. “I was very relieved.”

As to what caused the scary moment, she says she is not sure.

“It was just kind of a fluke thing,” Sisco said. “As far as the doctors could tell there hasn’t been any answer. I’m relieved that everything has come back normal in all of her testing.” 

Payton is already back at school and Sisco said she doesn’t remember what happened, however, Torres and her daughter have grown a bond.

“She always likes to come in and give me high fives and hugs when I see her in the morning,” Torres said.

The entire family is thankful for what Torres did, and they all give credit to CPR training and recommend every teacher become certified.

“You never know if or when you will have to use it,” Sisco said.

The school’s principal Kimberly Ellison shared a statement on the quick, life-saving actions of Coach Torres.

“In moments of crisis, the true strength of a school community shines through, and I am incredibly proud of our staff for their remarkable teamwork during a recent emergency that involved one of our students,” Ellison stated. “Coach Torres exemplified bravery and quick thinking, using his first response skills to provide immediate assistance during a critical situation. His actions not only helped our sweet girl in her time of need but also set a powerful example for all of us in handling emergencies.”

Ellison also said she would like for all of her teachers to learn CPR.