PRESS RELEASE

NEW ENGLAND SINAI PULMONARY CHIEF HONORED AFTER
CHILD RESCUED FROM LAKE

Dr. Alexander C. White and Newton Mayor Setti D. Warren

STOUGHTON, MA — Dr. Alexander C. White, Chief of Pulmonary Medicine at New England Sinai Hospital and a resident of Newton, Massachusetts, and a lifeguard at Crystal Lake in Newton performed CPR on a three year old girl who nearly drowned Friday, June 25, 2010. Dr. White frequently swims at Crystal Lake and was swimming by the children’s area when he heard the lifeguards yelling to get the child out of the water. He immediately went over to help 20-year old lifeguard Kathleen Capstick, explaining that he was a doctor.

“She didn’t know who I was,” White recalled. “It’s always awkward in a resuscitation when a complete stranger comes up and you don’t know what their skill set is. Your first inclination is to have them go away.”

White said he worked with the lifeguards and “pushed them along a little bit” in the CPR process, but said it was a team effort to revive the girl. “Everyone pulled together, the guards did what they needed to do,” he said.

Dr. White was presented with a proclamation by Newton Mayor Setti D. Warren on June 29, which reads: “In recognition of his valiant efforts on Friday, June 25, 2010. Dr. White exhibited composure and effectively responded to an emergency situation at Crystal Lake. Thanks to his efforts, the life of one of Newton’s youngest residents was saved. The City of Newton honors and appreciates his service to the community.”

Newton Police Chief Matthew Cummings also honored Dr. White and said, “The young child had waded into water over her head that evening and suffered from signs of obvious distress when pulled safely from the water and onto the shoreline. CPR was administered when an initial assessment of the young victim revealed that she was absent of a pulse. Shortly thereafter, she was revived and became conscious and alert. Your life-saving skills and directions given to the lifeguards were simply outstanding. I am honored to serve here in Newton with caring citizens like you. Congratulations for saving such a young and most precious life!”

In addition to serving as Chief of Pulmonary Medicine, Dr. White is Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and serves on the medical Staff at: New England Sinai Hospital and Tufts Medical Center. He is also Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Program in affiliation with Sleep HealthCenters® at Sinai. Dr. White is Board certified in Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine He was elected by his peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in the last two consecutive reviews (2005-2008).

New England Sinai Hospital is a 212-bed, non-sectarian, not-for-profit, long-term acute-care hospital with its main campus in Stoughton, MA and inpatient satellite units at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston and Caritas Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Recognized as a regional leader in pulmonary, medically complex and acute rehabilitation care, Sinai also offers a wide range of outpatient programs and services.  Sinai is a teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine.       

Contact:
Carole Herrup
Public Relations Director
New England Sinai Hospital
150 York Street
Stoughton, MA 02072

Tel. 781-297-1329
FAX: 781-297-7509