Einstein Honors Central HS Seniors who ‘Made The Call’
Students Knew Stroke Signs, Got Teacher Prompt Treatment
Philadelphia, PA, March 5, 2008 ─ Because several Central High School students knew the signs of stroke and acted promptly to help their teacher, they are
receiving special commendations from Albert Einstein Healthcare Network and City Council.
During a special assembly at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, 2008, the students and other school staff will receive
outstanding citizenship certificates from George Newman MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Neurosensory Sciences of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network and the local originator of Stroke
Alert, a one-day regionwide outreach program to educate people about signs of stroke so they “Don’t Stall – Make The Call!
9-1-1.”
Brittanie Jones, Catherine Kreamer and Anam Chaudhry were at work during their 12th Grade Latin class when they noticed teacher Ebrane Cadet was having trouble speaking – a warning sign of stroke - and answering
questions. They alerted department head Lois Ginsberg, who found Cadet was disoriented – another warning sign – helped the
students move him out of the classroom and to the nurse’s office, while she immediately called 9-1-1. School nurses Sandra
Campbell and Janet Friel tended to Cadet until emergency assistance arrived and transported Cadet to Albert Einstein Medical
Center, Central’s close neighbor.
At the medical center’s Emergency Department, Cadet was diagnosed with weakness on only one side – another warning
sign – and suffering from stroke. Prompt action by the students, department head and school nurses enabled Einstein’s team
to immediately administer clot-buster drug treatment and care. His symptoms almost completely subsided while he was in the
ED; he was allowed to go home within three days, and he returned to the classroom after only three weeks.
At the March 12 assembly, Cadet, who was born in Haiti, will discuss his stroke experience, and a representative
of Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller will present the school with a resolution honoring Central’s students and staff for their
life-saving actions.
This year’s Stroke Alert will take place May 6, 2008, as healthcare organizations in major metropolitan areas
across the United States, including Greater Philadelphia, join together for a grassroots awareness campaign. Doctors and
other specialists in these organizations have independently set aside professional competition because they want the community
to know the warning signs of stroke and the role a Good Samaritan can play to help save a life.
Just like Cadet, stroke sufferers may be unaware or minimize the first signs of stroke. As a result, they rarely
call 9-1-1. A friend or family member, even a Good Samaritan, needs to know the signs and make the call. “It is virtually
always an observer who makes the call. For this reason, everyone needs to know the signs of a stroke and have the courage
to call 911, as did these students,” said Dr. Newman. ”That is why we say, ‘don’t stall, make the call – call 9-1-1.’”
Publish date: March 5, 2008
