No time outs: McConnell members save a life

Published Feb. 17, 2010
By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
22nd AIr Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE, Kan. -- With six minutes remaining on the game clock during of an intramural basketball game here Jan. 26, players and spectators expected to see hustling jump shots and free throws, not a referee lying on the ground.

It was the longest game of Dwayne Lassiter's10-year career as a referee.

However, luck was in the Air Force veteran's court, as he was surrounded by people who used their medical expertise and urgency, which, in three quick minutes, saved his life.

Mr. Lassiter was following a play when he went into sudden cardiac arrest, said Staff Sgt. James Peak, a 22nd Maintenance Operation Squadron electrical/environmental systems instructor who was nearby as the referee fell to the floor.

The sergeant yelled to his wife and registered nurse, Kendra, to dial 911 as he started to check the referee's vital signs.

Instinct soon took over others in the gymnasium. The game's second referee, and friend of Mr. Lassiter, quickly repositioned his friend to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Those were the vital moments, according to Brad Eberhardt, the assisting ref, who has 32 years of medical experience.

"I just knew what to do," he said.

Mr. Eberhardt spent almost an entire military career as a Navy independent duty corpsman helping run hospitals on surface ships and instructing emergency medical technicians.

"You have a five to six minute window to officiate CPR for it to be effective," the Navy veteran said. "The faster you get electricity to a patient and start CPR, the better chance they have at a successful outcome."

Without resuscitation, chances of survival are reduced up to 10 percent with every passing minute, he said.

Additional people started rushing to Mr. Lassiter's aid.

Playing on the court with basketball in hand, Airman Logan Shamblin turned around at the gathering crowd and overheard Mr. Lassiter's status. Airmen Shamblin, assigned to the 22nd Maintenance Squadron, immediately grabbed an automated external defibrillator mounted on a hallway wall in the gym.

A frequent visitor to the gym, he knew where the life-saving device was; his reaction was second nature. He said he knew annual Air Force CPR training he receives also helped prepare him for that moment.

Time is everything, and fast actions are the best chance for good patient reaction, Airman Shamblin said.

The Airman's hectic dash down the hallway also caught the eye of an Army combat medic who had previously finished a basketball game. Specialist George Theoharis, 469th Medical Ambulatory Unit, 89th Regional Readiness Command, in Wichita, Kan., ran after Airman Shamblin to Mr. Lassiter's breathless, pulseless body.

Mr. Eberhardt touched the AED device pads to his fellow ref's chest, which prompted an electrical shock.

Specialist Theoharis gave Mr. Lassiter chest compressions and moments later, Mr. Lassiter moved his eyelids and his arm over his own face, said the Soldier.

Base fire department emergency responders from the arrived within about five minutes from the 911 call to find Mr. Lassiter alive, and responsive.

"Before I went down, I felt a little dizzy and lightheaded, and I remember thinking it was something that would just pass ... I can run through it," said Mr. Lassiter.

Cardiologists told Mr. Lassiter he had suffered sudden cardiac death, or death from abrupt loss of heart function. Doctors also told him after running several tests checking his arteries, electrical heart pulses and enzymes; they couldn't find a substantial reason for what caused the arrest.

"I am very grateful and thankful ... I was lucky to have a defibrillator there, and I was lucky there were people that were able to help me out," Mr. Lassiter said.

Mr. Lassiter was released from the hospital less than three days later, and is doing well. The referee holds a true spirit to get back into the game. He said he's going "back to business as usually, living a normal life," but for now, he is taking the rest of the season off.

Mr. Eberheart said he looks forward to having his co-worker back, and Mr. Lassitier couldn't be more thankful his friend and the others came to his aid.

"I wanted to tell them thanks for caring and being there and for not panicking and doing all the right things that bring me to where I can enjoy life still," said Mr. Lassiter.

Though his time-out is temporary, Mr. Lassiter looks forward to reffing again with advice from his cardiologist, and thanks to the efforts of his ready-trained, multi-service veterans.