Fitness Center workers' quick response, training saves man's life Published Nov. 6, 2015 By Holly Logan-Arrington Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Life can change in a second. Robins Fitness Center workers recently witnessed that when a person playing racquetball at the facility went into cardiac arrest. David Yann and Kenya Askew, both center recreation assistants, took quick action checking on the individual and calling 911. Scott Peavy, Fitness Program coordinator, grabbed the center's lifesaving equipment and headed to the court. John Enterman, Fitness and Sports manager, quickly followed Peavy as he passed his office door. Enterman said he couldn't detect a pulse on the man, so he began chest compressions while Peavy readied an automated external defibrillator. After administering CPR and using the AED, the man was revived. Fitness Center workers remained with the man, providing care until emergency crews arrived. Peavy said the fitness center staff responded the way they're trained to in an emergency - quick, controlled and clear-minded - an approach that saved the man's life. Enterman agreed. "You never know when a situation like this may arise or how one may react when thrown into a real situation, but don't be afraid to act," he said. Since that day, the man is doing well, Peavy said. "His doctor said if we hadn't provided care, he would have no longer been with us due to the nature of his attack," Peavy said. "It was the type of attack that had no pre-symptoms of a heart attack, just the end result of his heart stopping out of the blue." Peavy and Enterman both visited the man at the hospital, where his family expressed their gratitude. "During it all, I knew that he was someone's father, grandfather, husband and brother, and that I was going to do everything I could to keep him here." Peavy said. Peavy, who lost his father three years ago, said he was lucky to be with him in the end. "I wanted to hopefully give him and his family that opportunity," he said. "Fortunately, the Lord saw fit to give him a second chance and me the chance to give him that." What to know Defense Department civilians, active-duty military members, Guard and reservists on active-duty orders can request a list of CPR training instructors through their unit training monitors or unit deployment managers. If no CPR instructors are assigned, people can ask their UTMs/UDMs to enroll him or her in the eight-hour First Aid/CPR Automated External Defibrillator course in Bldg. 905. For more information, call Bill Wallace at 478-327-7320. If training in Bldg. 905 is not possible, contact Steven Brown - a training specialist in the 78th Medical Group - at 478-327-8136 or email steven.brown.89@us.af.mil. Contractors aren't authorized to receive CPR/AED training on base. They can, however, call the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross to locate a local CPR/AED training instructor.