Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu 
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

A team of Shawnee State Security Guards and Golden Bears performed life-saving techniques on Golden Bear James Adkins on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center in the Cardio Room when he had a heart attack and fell. In the photo, from left, are Officer Bernard Cooper, Senior Sgt. Lisa Rhoden, Adkins, Golden Bear John Koustmer, Golden Bear Gary Callihan and Officer Matt Scott. Not shown is Officer Brian Yerardi, Golden Bear Jackie Murphy and SSU custodian Meredith Glaze.

            On Wednesday, Oct. 21 about 7:45 a.m., Shawnee State University Golden Bear James Adkins was assisting another Golden Bear Lou Bowman onto a treadmill in the Cardio Room of the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center when he collapsed striking his head during the fall.
            Golden Bear Gary Callihan ran to assist Adkins and removed him from the treadmill and laid him on his back on the floor. During this time, Golden Bear Jackie Murphy contacted 911 and SSU custodian Meredith Glaze contacted SSU Security by radio and reported the incident. All security officers were advised to respond to the Cardio Room.
            In the meantime, Callihan administered nitro glycerin in his efforts to revive Adkins and Golden Bear John Koustmer began to perform chest compressions. Officer Brian Yerardi arrived at the scene with an Automated External Defibrillator and he began to perform CPR.
            Senior Sgt. Lisa Rhoden and Officers Matt Scott and Bernard Cooper arrived at the scene and Officer Yerardi continued to perform CPR as Rhoden and Scott placed the AED pads on Adkins.
            After the AED analyzed Adkins, shock was administered and then more CPR. No pulse or breathing was found at this time. Another round of chest compressions and breathing continued after two minutes of CPR, the AED once again analyzed Adkins and advised to shock and perform CPR, both chest compressions and breathing.
            Adkins was shocked again. The AED advised to perform CPR again. Officer Cooper began chest compressions and Sgt. Rhoden continued breathing techniques on Adkins.
            All of these life-saving techniques happened within a few minutes after Adkins had fallen and with the team working on him, he was breathing on his own again. Life Ambulance arrived and he was transported from campus.
            “I feel that the life saving efforts of all of these individuals should be recognized,” said Robert Pratt, chief of Security at SSU. “Because of their quick actions, response and training, Mr. Adkins was revived and transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center for immediate medical attention.”
            Adkins was later taken to Grant Hospital in Columbus where he has undergone treatment for his heart and surgery to repair facial injuries.