Good news: Surviving Cardiac Arrest

Unfortunately, only about 40 percent of people who experience an out-of-the-hospital cardiac arrest(OHCA) get the immediate help they need before professional help arrives.

According to the National Library of Medicine, OHCA is the leading cause of adult deaths, accounting for about 350,000 annual deaths in the USA.

However, a local man was recently able to beat the odds, not once, but twice.

James Lawson hopes his incredible story will help others.

Lawson was undergoing therapy treatment at Cloverleaf Healthcare from a previous cardiac arrest when it happened again.

Staff members immediately jumped into action, and STAR Ambulance was notified about the situation.

Providing CPR, the staff kept working with Lawson until STAR personnel arrived - Joe French, and EMT Brandon Sciotto, who is currently in paramedic school.

The two teams worked well together to provide the best care possible to stabilize Lawson before he was transported him to Union Hospital.

Cloverleaf Director of Nursing Candi Cusick praised the whole staff for their part in reviving Lawson.

“Mr. Lawson is an incredible man,” Cusick said about his fighting spirit. “This is the second time he survived a cardiac arrest. He was a patient here in rehab for the first one in December.”

Cusick said it was 30 days later when he had another, and 30 days in therapy and then went home. Lawson was very emotional and very greatful to everyone about the medical journey.

Jennifer Lawson, James’ wife, hopes her husband’s story will help others, and wants to share that her husband will need a new kidney transplant.

Cusick said if anyone is interested in taking part in that they can call Cloverleaf (812-446-2309) for more information.

“It is really rare for a patient to recover so fast,” said French, who became a paramedic to provide a helping hand to people on their worst day. “And without any damage to their health.”

Immediate treatment after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, according to 2021 US data, with survival to hospital discharge being 9.1 percent for all EMS-treated non-traumatic OHCA cardiac arrests.

“It’s incredibly rare for someone who’s suffered from cardiac arrest to survive, let alone have no defects from it and be able to return home to a normal life,” said French. “I, as well as my coworkers, take pride in our job. It’s usually thankless job that most days can be grueling.”

French said it is calls like this one that make the “bad calls” worth it.

“All first responders see, hear, and deal with situations that would make most people tremble,” said French. “When you see your work has truly made a difference it makes you feel great.”

The 2023 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics state that among the over 356,000 OHCA that occurred, 40.2% received bystander CPR.

S.T.A.R

Statewide Transfer Ambulance & Rescue, or S.T.A.R., made 3,396 emergency 911 calls for service in Clay County during 2023, averaging 9.3 calls per day, and performed 542 transports out of St. Vincent Clay Hospital.

STAR Ambulance Director David Peck said 2023 marked the completion of six years as the emergency ambulance provider for Clay County.

“Many members of our staff serving the community are members of the community themselves, and we have been happy to be able to hire and train several Clay County residents to become E.M.S. personnel,” said Peck. “Being called upon to take care of Clay County’s health emergencies is a great honor that I, and all of us at STAR, take immense pride in.”

Founded by Sam and Linda Peck on April 1st, 1982, in Crawfordsville, IN, starting with eight crew members and one ambulance, S.T.A.R. has grown into the service it is today under the ownership and direction of the Peck Family over the past 40+ years.

STAR has expanded to 20 ambulances(with three more on the way), two Off-Road Rescue vehicles, and 100+ employees at eight stations with a new one coming soon in Bloomington, and seven others in Clay, Marion/Hendricks, Montgomery, Putnam, and Tippecanoe counties.

STAR operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing state-award winning services, including;

Emergent,

Non-Emergent,

Special Event,

Bariatric, and

Critical Care Ambulance Transport.

STAR is one of the oldest and most experienced E.M.S. Providers in IN, a history to be quite proud of.

“We continue to provide our staff with new equipment such as Stryker StairPro Chairs and new ambulances to aid them in serving the citizens best,” Peck said. “STAR is one of Indiana’s oldest and most experienced E.M.S. Providers. It is a history that we are quite proud of.”