2014 -- H 8308

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LC005902

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING THE EAST GREENWICH FIRST RESPONDERS FOR

SAVING ANTHONY PETRONE’S LIFE AFTER HE COLLAPSED DURING VOLLEYBALL

PRACTICE

     Introduced By: Representative Antonio Giarrusso

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Anthony Petrone, a seventeen year old student athlete in his junior year at

East Greenwich High School and the beloved son of Keelin and Joe Petrone, collapsed to the

floor on March 31, 2014, while participating in Volleyball practice. He was not conscious, he was

not responding, and he had suffered cardiac arrest. Thanks to the diligent and immediate response

he received from the East Greenwich staff, public service professionals, and his fellow

teammates, he survived and is on the road to recovery; and

     WHEREAS, During volleyball practice on March 31, 2014, Anthony Petrone appeared to

be having trouble breathing. Assistant Coach Mike Penza's quick instinctual response kept

Anthony from falling to the floor and further injuring himself. Head Coach Terry Garno quickly

recognized the urgency of the situation and sent team Co-Captain Chris Sgrignari running to get

East Greenwich High School Sports Trainer Tim Crandall. Mr. Crandall immediately provided

CPR and administered shocks via one of the school's portable defibrillators, while Co-Captain

Paul Andreson called 911. Tim Crandall's rapid lifesaving actions were vital and critical to

Anthony's survival; and

     WHEREAS, The East Greenwich Fire Department quickly responded to the distress call.

Lieutenants Bill Purcell, and Keith Hall, and Firefighters Bill Marsh and Dan Andrade arrived on

the scene and worked on Anthony, delivering multiple shocks to keep him alive, while School

Resource Officer Bert Montalban was pressed into service and drove the Rescue vehicle to Kent

Hospital. Chief Russell McGillivray coordinated the efforts of the firefighters at the High School

and at Kent Hospital; and

     WHEREAS, Anthony Petrone was first taken to Kent Hospital and was later transferred

to Hasbro Children's Hospital. East Greenwich Athletic Director Chris Cobain, High School

Principal Mike Podraza, Fire Chief Russell McGillivray and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Victor

Mercurio immediately raced to Kent Hospital to provide support to the Petrone Family.

Anthony's teammates and coaches also visited him many times and offered immeasurable support

to him and his family; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks the East Greenwich first responders for saving

Anthony Petrone's life after he collapsed during volleyball practice. Furthermore, we wish

Anthony Petrone a full recovery and good health, happiness and a long and prosperous future;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit certified copies of this resolution to Keelin and Joe Petrone, East Greenwich Sports

Trainer Tim Crandall, East Greenwich High School Principal Mike Podraza, and East Greenwich

Fire Chief Russ McGillivray.

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LC005902

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