A second-year health science student at Broome-Tioga BOCES, Fitzgerald is being hailed as a hero for her calm, professional response when a fellow employee at New York Pizzeria suddenly dropped to the floor suffering an apparent heart attack. Within seconds, Fitzgerald was working to revive the man using CPR skills she had honed as part of her coursework with BOCES health instructor Christina Skinner.
The man is recoupering in a local hospital, and Fitgerald is being dubbed "his angel" by family members.
"We are very proud of her," said Skinner, a registered nurse and master's level health educator. "She relied on her training and responded precisely as she was taught to do. She demonstrated a poise well beyond her years."
A senior at Chenango Valley High School, Fitzgerald plans to attend college to become a registered nurse.
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