By Allen Smith
Independence Daily Reporter – December 4, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – December 19, 2013
Roger Banning left his home in Independence the morning of September 4, 2013 and headed to his job at JC Pump in Coffeyville and rather than return home that evening, he round up at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville, Okla.
Banning, approximately halfway through his work day, said it was his understanding he turned blue while standing at his work station and eventually passed out.
“My work partner, Lewis Dean, caught me before I hit the floor,” said Banning, who suffered a cardiac arrest, that day. “I sort of remember leaning backwards, Lewis tried to catch me, but I slipped right through his hands and went to the ground.”
He said another fellow worker, Jesse Keeny, knew cardio pulmonary resuscitation.
“Jesse started chest compressions and I learned just the other day he actually did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,” Banning said. “I am thankful for those guys. They helped saved my life.”
While that was going on, someone called 911 and it just so happened three members of the Coffeyville Fire Department were within a few blocks of Banning’s workplace when the call was received.
“The firemen were doing a routine inspection in the area and were only a few blocks away…so they responded,” Banning said.
Those firemen were Capt. Kent Bastian, Lt. Mike O’Connor and firefighter Josh Mecom. For their efforts that day, they were honored by the Coffeyville City Commission on October 22 and were awarded life saving medals for their efforts and they were able to greet Banning and his family, including wife, Lora, and daughter, Calli Jo Montgomery. Montgomery is the manager at Jump Star in Independence.
“What those guys did is amazing…they are true heroes…they are my heroes,” Banning said.
Bastian, O’Connor and Mecom were dispatched to JC Pump at 11:12 a.m. to a code blue, cardiac arrest, said Coffeyville Fire Chief James Grimmett.
Knowing they were going to a cardiac arrest, Mecom prepared the Automatic External Defibrillator, which is standard equipment on Engine 1 which they were operating that day.
Once the three reached Banning, O’Connor assessed Banning and found he had no pulse or respirations. They used the AED machine within 60 seconds of arrival and defibrillated Banning’s heart.
“No pulse or respirations,” Grimmett said.
That result prompted the start of CPR by the three.
“Once the AED prompted them it was ready for further use, they shocked Banning a second time…no change so CPR was started again,” Grimmett said.
By now Coffeyville EMS was on the scene and Banning was “hit a third time with the AED.”
“After a quick assessment it was determined Banning had a pulse and respirations, Grimmett told the commission.
“As a result of their quick, decisive and competent actions a life was saved,” Grimmett said.
Banning’s wife, Lora, said he was put in the ambulance and rushed to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
“After he was stabilized, Randy was put in the ambulance and taken to Bartlesville, Okla., where he was put on ice to lower his body temperature down to 92 degrees,” Lora said.
“Randy didn’t wake up until Friday,” she added.
Banning had a stint put in his heart and by Sunday he was on his way home.
The family, of course, is thankful.
“Everything worked out in such a way that he’s still here today,” Lora said. “Thank God.”
Now Banning is back practicing with his band, and even made a trip to Arrowhead Stadium a week ago Sunday to his beloved Kansas City Chiefs play the San Diego Chargers.
“I’m a lucky man,” Banning said. “Without the help of my co-workers and those three firemen I wouldn’t be here today. They deserve the medals they received,” he said.
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