Student Uses Defibrillator, Saves Man`s Life at Mo. University
Dec. 01--WARRENSBURG -- Training paid off when a man collapsed during a pick-up basketball game at the University of Central Missouri Student Recreation Center.
Carmenita Laumoli, a nursing student and president of the Polynesian Club, said club members celebrated Thanksgiving at the rec center. During the celebration, her husband, James Laumoli, suffered a heart attack.
Three graduate assistants -- Darren Doherty, Kyle Smith and Danny Potje -- rushed to aid James Laumoli at 5:03 p.m., Nov. 21.
"I would like to thank them for what they did. May God bless them," she said.
After the attack and resuscitation, followed by a defibrillator implant at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, James Laumoli is on medication and doing well, she said.
One of the assistants, Doherty, is an emergency medical technician. He first used chest compression, then applied a defibrillator.
Campus Activities Director Beth Rutt said she saw Doherty attending the victim, with ambulance personnel starting to take over, when she arrived at the rec center.
"It was the first time we've had to call in emergency medical assistance," Rutt said. "It's not a matter of if an emergency will happen, but when. That's why we train."
The six graduate assistants who work at the 11-month-old center have first aid, CPR and defibrillator training, she said.
"This was an eye opener for all of them," Rutt said.
Life-safety training must occur regularly to be effective, Rutt said.
"Training has to be repetitive," Rutt said, "so it's reaction. You don't have to think."
Although Doherty is an EMT, he trains with staff, Rutt said.
"Everyone I work with has been through CPR and first aid training. In this case the training of several workers here really made the difference. Everybody did a great job," Doherty said.
Doherty served two years as president of the Student Government Association, seeks a master's in criminal justice and is the student member on the UCM board of governors.
Copyright 2011 - The Daily Star-Journal, Warrensburg, Mo.
