The Oak Harbor School District honored three of its staff Tuesday at a school board meeting for helping save the life of a North Whidbey Lions Club member.

The man, Terry Beatty, stopped by Oak Harbor High School March 10 to pick up fliers for a car show from the school’s art department. He felt unwell and collapsed in the school’s courtyard.

Assistant superintendent Steve King recognized district nurse Kim Hitt, school resource officer Nathan Padrta and dean Pat Felger. He described the three as “fantastic employees” who responded quickly and calmly.

They used a defibrillator machine on the man and administered CPR until paramedics arrived. Padrta had just received refresher training on how to use the machine the week before.

Beatty was on hand Tuesday, and after the recognition, all four converged for a group hug.

The high school has several automated external defibrillator machines installed in different locations around the building. Principal Dwight Lundstrom said the school just purchased another.

This portable device checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. It’s used to treat sudden cardiac arrest.

By state law, all students are required to receive this training by graduation, and the high school in conjunction with local agencies train ninth graders on how to use a defibrillator and do CPR.

The school district requires nurses, high school trainers, coaches, bus and van drivers and all CTE instructors to receive CPR and defibrillator training

The middle schools also have the AED machines and district officials expressed interest in purchasing more for the elementary schools.