A West Hall Middle School nurse’s quick medical attention may have saved the life of a seventh-grader Tuesday.

West Hall Middle School Nurse Karen Blakeley responded to Rosa Becerra, a West Hall seventh-grader, who came to Blakeley’s office after lunch complaining of itchy legs, according to a Hall County schools news release.

After Blakeley gave the girl an antihistamine in accordance with District II Public Health protocol, moments later she was having trouble breathing and appeared to be going into shock.

According to the release, Blakeley then called 9-1-1 because she recognized these symptoms as anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can lead to death. She followed protocol and gave Becerra an EpiPen shot, which slows the effect of such reactions.

Becerra was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. By 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, West Hall Middle School Assistant Principal Joan Armour reported Becerra had been released from the hospital.

Blakeley said this is the first time in her five years with county schools that she used the EpiPen in a dire situation.