Lake Murray, SC (Paul Kirby) – A man was seriously injured in an accident Friday afternoon when he fell from a ladder at the new Beechwood Middle School. The school is located on Hwy. 378 west of Lexington. Paramedics and firefighters from Lexington County quickly responded and transported the victim to a local hospital. We have confirmed that the injured person was not an employee of Lexington County School District One
Emergency crews were informed while enroute to the school that the patient was in cardiac arrest and CPR had been started. They were further advised to come to the front of the school to be led to the injured man. Lexington One schools are equipped to begin lifesaving efforts in the event of such a tragedy. Key members of the staff have CPR training and can use an Automatic External Defibrillator if necessary.
Lexington County’s advanced life support ambulances are equipped with all the equipment and drugs that a modern emergency room has. Their paramedics are also trained to follow a protocol that mirrors the treatment and procedures that doctors and nurses would perform at the emergency room. If those protocols have been followed on the scene and the injured hasn’t responded, crews can consult with a physician via radio and pronounce a patient deceased. The fact that this man was transported in what was described as a post cardiac arrest state gives hope that he may recover.
Beechwood Middle was dedicated Thursday afternoon. It is two stories and is beautiful and expansive. Although construction of the new school is complete, there will be some small finishing touches that could need to be addressed even after the students begin classes next Tuesday.
We have requested more information from Lexington County. We will update this story as more becomes available.
