By THOMAS LUCKIE III

OGDENSBURG – Tupper Lake Middle-High School Principal Russell Bartlett offered thanks to the Ogdensburg City School District for the quick response to a Tupper Lake fan in need of medical attention during a varsity football game at Ogdensburg Free Academy on Friday Oct. 13.

District Superintendent Timothy Vernsey read from a statement Bartlett had written to OFA Athletic Director Tony Bjork at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

“Tony, first of all, kudos to you and everyone at OFA, clearly your emergency plan is top notch and everything that needed to be in place was in place, pretty sure it saved a life,” Bartlett wrote.

“I can’t think you enough for that,” he continued. “She called this morning from the hospital in Syracuse and is doing okay. She has a long road ahead of her, but she’s alive and that’s largely due to you guys. Thank you again.”

Vernsey noted that an automated external defibrillator (AED) had to be used and that a doctor and several nurses attending the game quickly responded to the stricken female fan. Members of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad were also present to staff the football game and responded to the fan.

“We never like to see those things happen, but we do like to see that our response is well orchestrated,” Vernsey said.

“We reviewed some things today, we have a lot of people here for those events, everything went pretty well, we’re just glad that young lady is doing okay,” he added.