A-State University Police Officer Honored at Ceremony for Life Saving Actions
Bridgett Sullenger, Leigh Anne Hall, Sgt. Chase Barnett, and UPD Police Chief Randy Martin.
JONESBORO – On a Wednesday around two o’clock in the afternoon, Arkansas State University employee Leigh Anne Hall experienced a life-threatening medical emergency.
A student worker in Information Technology Services was alerted that another co-worker needed help.
“I started CPR. It was scary and I prayed so hard while doing it,” said Bridgett Sullenger, a sophomore nursing student from Highland.
Sullenger said that while she was trained to do CPR when she was younger, she had never been in a situation where she needed to use the skill until that moment.
University Police Officer Sgt. Chase Barnett arrived on the scene and continued CPR and administered an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“I’ve worked for a city before and I have never really had the ability to know the outcome of a situation like this. It is different when I get to go back and see her in her office and she’s doing well. It’s a different situation to actually physically go and meet the person that you got to help that day,” said Barnett.
He said once the Jonesboro Fire Department and paramedics arrived, they took over to get Hall medical treatment.
On Monday, UPD Chief Randy Martin presented Barnett with a Certificate for Life Saving Actions.
Dr. Todd Shields, chancellor at A-State, said the university executive committee decided, in honor of the life that was saved that day, to donate to the Community Health Education Foundation to fund the purchase of a new AED device.
Barnett also received a special badge he will wear on his uniform for his role in saving a life.
“You don’t do it for the award, but it’s nice to be recognized, and the biggest reward is getting to see her and know that she’s ok.”
