A staff member called emergency medical services (EMS) to Principia College at 6:57 p.m. on Feb. 10 after a Fresh Ideas employee had a medical emergency in the Howard Center. The person was rushed to a hospital via helicopter and is in stable condition, according to College President Meggan Madden.
EMS arrived on campus at 7:18 p.m. via ambulance to provide care, before calling for the helicopter at 7:26 p.m. They transported the individual to the parking lot near the soccer practice field using the ambulance.
There, a helicopter landed on the field and airlifted the employee to St. Louis University Hospital, where the individual is being treated, said Madden. The helicopter left for the hospital at 8:18 p.m., according to Jerseyville Police logs.
“I’m really grateful with how quickly everybody responded to the situation. From Fresh Ideas taking immediate action, to security responding, and to student life providing support,” said Madden.
Principia’s Health or Injury Emergency Response Guidelines call for Campus Security to be notified immediately after a 911 call is made so they may provide assistance and guide EMS as needed.
Security officers Ethan Bailey and Mike Ringhausen assisted by guiding EMS, blocking off roads, and keeping bystanders away from the emergency response vehicles. About 10 students drawn by the noise of the helicopter gathered to watch.
“The team has been fantastic at going through the process of getting first responders in contact quickly,” said Director of Security Andrew Lesky. “Mike Ringhausen and Ethan Bailey both jumped into action and worked well with first responders.”
Bailey, a supervisor, also notified Dean of Students Mark Hagenlocher, who lives on campus. He said he went directly to the Howard Center and then to the helicopter landing site to provide support to students who witnessed the emergency or were nearby.
He said there were none there by the time he got there.
Hagenlocher also informed Director of Spiritual Life Roger Gordon and Resident Counselors so they could support students.
Lesky said this is the third time a helicopter has been summoned to campus to provide medical transportation since he started in October 2022.
“We were prayerfully supporting this process throughout the entire evening,” Madden said. “We’re holding this individual and their family in our prayers.”