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Teen Hero: Palatine High School Junior Rescues Fellow Student Having Seizure In PoolFree Access


Emma Zach (right) is grateful she was able to help pull Cailean Walker (left) out of the pool when she had a seizure, but also credits many others who assisted her. (Journal photo)

A 16-year-old Palatine High School junior is being called a hero after she helped rescue a fellow student suffering a seizure in the school’s swimming pool.

Emma Zach, a peer leader who helps in the school’s special education class, acted quickly when 17-year-old senior Cailean Walker suffered a seizure in the pool during class Thursday, Sept. 9.

During an interview Friday, Sept. 17, Zach, who is a certified swim instructor and was a lifeguard this summer at a private pool, stated she was in the deep end of the pool teaching Walker and others how to breaststroke when she realized very quickly that something was wrong with Walker.

She said Walker was communicative one minute and then quiet the next, which is when she determined that Walker was having a seizure. Immediate help was needed. 

Cailean Walker (left) and Emma Zach (right) walking hand in hand. (Journal photo)

“My first instinct was to grab her face to keep her head out of the water,” Zach said.

While she was keeping Walker’s head above water, John Giuliano, a teacher assistant, jumped in and pulled her out of the pool along with the help of Zach and teacher Jennifer Garofalo.

Garofalo noted that Zach knew instantly to get Walker on her back to help her breathe, before calling for assistance. Between Zach and Giuliano, they safely took her vitals, monitored and got Walker out of the pool.

A humble and modest Zach pointed to a “team effort.”

As soon as Walker was out of the pool, she was covered with towels and the seizure came to an end, which lasted about a minute. The school nurse was able to transport her to a different area of the school by way of wheelchair to deescalate the situation.

Walker suffers from Dravet syndrome, previously called severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI). It begins in infancy or early childhood and can include a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Garofalo said Walker deals with 10-12 seizures a month, but this was the first time she ever had one in the pool. 

Walker was at school the following day and was even in the pool 24 hours after being rescued. 

Garofalo calls Zach a hero. “She did so well and was my hero that day,” Garofalo said. 

“I am happy I got to help,” Zach said. “I was just the closest one to her and I am grateful to have been able to help save her.”

The Dist. 211 Board of Education expects to honor Zach with a certificate at the Oct. 21 school board meeting along with Giuliano and likely Garofalo as well.

 

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One response to “Teen Hero: Palatine High School Junior Rescues Fellow Student Having Seizure In Pool”

  1. Hooray for Emma and so glad Cailean is safe. We have many friends with Dravet Syndrome and our son lives with KBG Syndrome experiencing seizures daily. Good job Emma! One point of correction: the person having the seizure should NOT be put on their back but on their side so they do not aspirate. Again, well done Emma!

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