Pickle ball game at Carson City MAC turns into life-saving event
Memorial Day weekend began as just another Saturday for brothers Dennis and Jim Manning, and Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space employee Daniel Krahn.
Krahn was working at the front desk of the Multipurpose Athletic Center (MAC) on May 26 while the Manning brothers engaged in a spirited game of pickle ball, when a call for help spurred them to action.
A man leaving the MAC collapsed at the front door from cardiac arrest, prompting Krahn to respond immediately.
"I was helping a customer when the person was leaving with two other people," Krahn said. "He stopped at the door, held the door longer than usual, and just collapsed. I caught sight of him out of the corner of my eye as soon as he hit the ground."
Krahn's formal emergency response training resulted in swift action.
"I ran over and checked on him," he said. "He was breathing, but wasn't responding, so I decided to call 9-1-1."
Meanwhile, a woman accompanying the victim ran into the gym area calling out for help as Krahn attended to him. The Manning brothers happened to be there finishing up their pickle ball game.
"We were just wrapping up a game of pickle ball when a lady came over and frantically asked if there was an EMT here," said Mound House resident Jim Manning. "We hurried over, and saw the man was really pale and out."
According to Dayton resident Dennis Manning, the victim did not appear to be breathing when he and his brother arrived on scene, so they immediately worked in tandem administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
"[Jim] took the lead in providing the compressions and providing the air, while I kept his airway open and monitored his pulse and breathing," Dennis said. "He stopped breathing off and on, so we had to keep administering several times."
Krahn had retrieved the automated external defibrillator (AED) and was preparing to begin defibrillation on the patient when Carson City Firefighter-Paramedics arrived on scene and took over emergency life-saving procedures.
"When fire crews showed up, we were able to convert the patient back to regular resuscitation and he has survived this evident," Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon said. "Their initial actions as well as the firefighters who responded saved the gentleman’s life."
Slamon said that witnessed-based CPR nearly doubles a patient's chances of surviving a heart attack.
"You were trained and jumped into action right away," he said to the three individuals at the start of Thursday morning's Board of Supervisor's meeting. "Because of those great actions, the gentlemen is alive today.
Chief Slamon awarded each man an official commendation from the Carson City Fire Department for their heroism Thursday before the board.
"On behalf of a grateful board and grateful community, many thanks to all of you," Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell addressed the men. "It's just remarkable that wherever you go in this community, you will be able to find someone who will help you out."
Both Krahn and Jim Manning are current on their CPR training. Dennis, on the other hand, had received training several years ago. But he still knew what to do.
"It had been quite a number of years for me, but I still remembered it," Dennis said.
His brother, Jim, said his recent training resulted in the quick actions needed for life-saving intervention.
"I took CPR a year ago and that gave me confidence to step in and start this process," he said. "Everybody should take CPR and be ready.
"If it were me laying on the ground and not breathing, I would hope that there was somebody there to take over and help me survive an incident like that," Jim added. "It's a good thing for everyone in the community to take a CPR class."
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