When San Marino High School teacher Scott Barton’s heart stopped beating on campus, the community came to his aid — to serve one of their own, a member of their school’s family.
Barton, who teaches physics, unexpectedly collapsed during a Comedy-
Sportz performance on Dec. 1. During the medical emergency, he suffered full cardiac arrest. Immediately, parents and teachers came together for one common purpose — to save his life.
The San Marino Board of Education honored 16 individuals who helped Barton at their meeting last week. The educator, who was in attendance, has since returned to the classroom after recovering from cracked ribs and sternum from CPR compressions.
“I’m really glad I’m here for a celebration and not a memorial,” Barton half-joked during the meeting.
“I’m not surprised that the San Marino community rallied to help me,” Barton told the Tribune. “The teachers are trained to do what they do and we as a group don’t shy away from helping each other. … It is nice to know that other people are looking out for your well-being, but that’s what the San Marino community is all about. I’m not surprised at all that they stepped up. I hope I would have responded in the same way.”
SMUSD Superintendent Linda de la Torre commended the good Samaritans, which included two parents and four teachers: Andrew Gayl, Lisa Davidson, Daniel Hernandez and Theresa Murphy.
“In a world that, in today’s day and age, is so divisive, it is so nice to know that there are people among us who are willing to put themselves at risk to help others when they need it the most,” de la Torre said. “And that night, not only was there one person who was willing to stand up and put themselves at risk to save another person’s life, but there were 16 people who were selfless, humble, and acted, reacted and responded in the most impactful way to save another person’s life.”
Julia Caringal was one of the parents who rushed to the stage to help Barton. She just so happens to be a labor and delivery nurse, who had not planned to be in the audience that night.
Initially, everyone thought Barton had fainted, but Caringal realized something was more serious after she saw his eyes.
“They looked glassy — like we were going to lose him,” she recalled.
Along with radiologist Dr. Margaret Lee Lo, Caringal administered CPR to Barton, who was also treated with an AED retrieved by Gayl. Barton’s heart stopped after two shocks from the device, but was revived after two more that followed when first responders arrived.
“This is my first time ever helping someone outside of a medical setting,” Caringal said. “So, I was very glad to see I had that support if I had been at a hospital. We all flowed into the function and worked together.
“When I see my patients, I see them for a moment and then they leave,” the nurse added. “I think this was a bit different because I have a little more of a connection — and empathy. I’m happy to see he’s alive and we are able to see the fruits of our labor in a full circle kind of way.”
De la Torre expressed gratitude to the two parents who were critical in providing life-saving medical care to Barton.
“It is truly a miracle that they were placed at the right time, at the right place — to do what they did to help Mr. Barton’s life,” de la Torre said.
All SMUSD campuses have AED devices, with multiple available at San Marino High School, said de la Torre, who found it “reaffirming to know that our teachers knew exactly what to do.”
SMHS senior Kalila Caringal, who is the daughter of Julia Caringal, helped soothe fellow students’ worries and emotions as Barton was getting the care he needed.
“My biggest worry was trying to get everyone backstage calm, because a lot of my friends weren’t used to this kind of situation and didn’t know what was happening — if he was going to make it or not,” Kalila Caringal said. “My main focus was making sure they were OK.”
Gayl, a social sciences teacher and assistant girls’ golf coach, was on stage with Barton moments prior to his collapse, playing on his ComedySportz team alongside two students. Though the urgency of the health emergency escalated quickly, Gayl said he was able to remain cool under pressure, which he attributes to his unwavering belief that his colleague and longtime friend would ultimately pull through.
“To be honest, the entire time, I never thought he was going to die,” Gayl said. “I had this really crazy feeling that he was going to be OK, and I felt really calm. I think because of that, everyone else was calm.”
Gayl jumped in to help give Barton CPR when needed — which likely contributed to his colleague’s survival.
Repeatedly, Gayl said, he told those around him that Barton was going to be fine — eliciting a few “weird” looks.
Since the incident, Gayl said that day replays in his head a lot, but he tries not to think about it.
“It means the world to me that I was able to help him, because he’s one of my best friends, and he’s alive,” said Gayl, who added that he would have done the same for anybody.
Gayl and Barton have been friends for 16 years. Gayl coached Barton’s son in football when he was in high school, they play on the same fantasy sports league, and recently, every day until Barton can drive again, Gayl picks him up on his way to work.
“We’re really close,” Gayl said. “We have a close bond, and now, we’re even closer.”
Barton challenged the district, the board and SMHS administration to bring back CPR as a graduation requirement, while noting several of his students have recently taken steps necessary to become CPR-trained, with others showing interest in doing the same. California teachers are required to be first aid and CPR-trained.
First published in the January 26 print issue of the San Marino Tribune.
