Brevard College .Brevard N.C.
Vol. 57Numbers
Monday, October 30.1989
Talk about a
Super baby sitter...
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EC's Candy Laster is a life-saver
Candy Laster with Isaac Wells (BC photo by Lorrie A. Diaz)
By Lorrie A. Diaz
('.Itiriim tAiihir
The night of Friday, Oct. 6, began as nor
mally as any other for sophomore Candy
Laster. Again she was babysitting for local
pediatrician Dr. Ora Wells.
He and his wife, Susan, were attending a
party. Candy sat in their living room en
joying the television. She had little idea of
what was about to take place.
At approximately 9 p.m., during a com
mercial break. Candy went to the kitchen
for a glass of water. There he stood: Isaac
Wells, 9, the oldest of the three children.
He stared at her with an expression of
panic engulfing him. His face was blue
because of the lack of oxygen. His hands
were wrapped loosely around his throat
and he was silent and still. The tears flow
ed endlessly from his eyes. Isaac was
choking.
Candy, not knowing exactly what was
happening, asked Isaac if he could
breathe. He softly shook his head ‘no.’
Instantly, Candy bent Isaac over and
began to perform the Heimlich Maneuver.
Within seconds, he was coughing up the
pieces of a peppermint candy onto a towel
that lay on the floor.
Isaac began breathing again. It was over
and he was all right.
“I dropped to my knees and I hugged
him and I was crying,” said Candy. She
had just saved a boy’s life and she felt
numb with disbelief.
Earlier this semester when Candy
registered for her First Aid class at BC, the
last thing on her mind was having to ac
tually use what she had learned in the
class so soon.
She decided to take the course because
she felt it would be a benefit to both her
and those around her.
“I didn’t realize how important it was to
know something like that,” said the
heroine. Isaac was a lucky little boy. The
9-year-old said, “I was scared but I was
just glad she knew what to do.”
After making sure that he had
recovered, Candy called Isaac s parents.
According to Candy, Dr. Wells was very-
calm but happy to know his son was alive
and well. Mrs. Wells was frightened to
realize that her child was that close to
death. She praised Candy for thinking so
quickly on her feet and taking charge.
“You never think of having to save so
meone from choking, ” said a relieved Mrs.
Wells. According to Dr, Wells, Isaac was
very close to death because both his wind
pipe and esophagus were bruised. He
believes that every babysitter should learn
some type of First Aid.
Isaac’s perspective of the incident was
the scariest. He said that he was sitting in
bed playing with his Lego toys and put a
piece of peppermint candy in his mouth.
He laid down on the bed and continued
playing when the mint became lodged in
his windpipe.
He started to choke on it. Isaac tried to
climb down from the top bunk but fell
along the way. While not being able to
breathe, he still managed to struggle his
way to the kitchen — and that is when Can
dy saved him.
Even after he was breathing normally
again, Isaac was still shaken up. Candy
said the tears were still streaming down
his cheeks.
Dr, Birdie Eason, Candy’s First Aid
teacher here at Brevard College, was very
proud to learn of Candy’s success with her
new knowledge from the class. Dr, Eason
said one never knows when they’ll need or
use what they have learned. Candy made
the occurrence known to her classmates,
and as a result, it has made them more
aware that the training they are receiving
can and does save people’s lives.
Said Candy, “I think that anybody who’s
interested in taking a health class should
consider First Aid because you never know
when something catastrophic is going to
happen, and everybody should be
prepared,”
The parents are coming! The parents are coming!
. orofic AC
by Burney Mack
('.larion Repttrler
Are you ready for Parents’ Weekend?
Have you cleaned your room up from your
Halloween parties? Moms, dads, and
relatives will be on campus Nov. 3,4 and 5
to see how you live at BC. Parents
Weekend is sponsored by the Student
Government Association, in cooperation
with faculty and administration.
Many interesting activities have been
scheduled to entertain parents and ffiends.
The weekend begins on Friday to allow
parents to attend classes with their son or
daughter. One major event will be the stu
dent presentation of “Nude With Violin,
directed by Professor Sam Cope. The play
begins at 8:15 p m, on Friday and Satur
day nights. Admission is free for Brevard
students, but all other seats are $3, R«er
vations are required and all seats will be
reserved Contact the BC Receptionist in
Beam Administration Bldg, for informa-
Other major attractions will include
music by the Jazz Band; coffee and con
versation with President Greer, other col
lege administrators and members of the
faculty; Open House in all the residence
halls, a special college worship service
with music provided by the Chamber
Chorale and remarks by Campus
Chaplain, Jr, Charles Zimmerman. Best of
all, there will be the annual student talent
show in the Dunham Auditorium, Sunday,
Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.
In addition to the campus activities,
parents can also enjoy the Pisgah National
Forest, which is only 5 minutes from cam
pus and otfers picnic areas as well as
beautiful hiking trails.
Meals will be available for guests in the
A.G. Myers Dining Hall at the following
rates: Breakfast - J2.30; Lunch - $3.15;
Dinner - $3.85; and Sunday Lunch - $4.30,
Many students enjoy the opportunity to
invite parents and friends to a special
weekend here at Brevard Joe Cowan, a
resident assistant, says, “It’s a great idea,
it gives parents a chance to come down
and spend time with their son/daughter.
Parents get into that kind of thing,”