Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Silvertips trainer helped make ‘save’
Came to aid of heart attack victim at rec league game
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Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Silvertips athletic trainer Chris Walker helps hang up game-worn Silvertips jerseys before a “garage sale” at the team store in 2009. Walker helped save a heart attack victim after a Tips game on Feb. 4.
EVERETT — When the Everett Silvertips played host to the Seattle Thunderbirds in early February at Comcast Arena, the best save wasn’t made by either Everett goaltender Kent Simpson or Seattle netminder Calvin Pickard.
It was made by Silvertips athletic trainer Chris Walker.
Walker was called into emergency action following the Feb. 4 game to aid a recreation league hockey player who suffered a heart attack. His actions helped save the player’s life.
“It’s more intense than I thought it would be,” Walker said about his first experience with a heart attack victim. He was reluctant to take credit for the outcome.
A Greater Seattle Hockey League game was underway at the Everett Events Center’s community rink, which adjoins Comcast Arena, after the Silvertips and Thunderbirds had left the ice Feb. 4.
Walker happened to be walking the tunnel from the Silvertips locker room to the parking lot, about to head home, when he was alerted to a commotion taking place on the other side of the divider that separates the main arena from the community rink.
“I was just leaving the rink, I’d called my wife to say I was on my way and would be home in a couple minutes,” Walker said. “I was walking by the divider wall between the arena and the community rink when I heard one the of the guest services people say, ‘Do you know where our first-aid kit is?’ I asked what was going on and if anybody was hurt.”
It turned out that 56-year-old Barry Sarles had suffered a heart attack while playing in the GSHL game. Sarles was able to skate himself to the bench before collapsing on the bench’s floor.
Both Walker and Chad DeCrow, one of the arena’s Zamboni drivers, reacted quickly and arrived to find Sarles unconscious. Walker assessed Sarles’ condition, finding Sarles wasn’t breathing and had an irregular pulse. Walker called for the arena’s automatic external defibrillator (AED), which was promptly delivered by security staff member Jordan LaPier, and directed a bystander to call 911.
Walker had been trained in defibrillator use, but had never actually used one before.
“The AEDs are great because you don’t really have to do anything,” Walker said. “You turn them on and it starts to check right away. It analyzed for rhythm for him and said we needed to shock him. I told everybody to back up and hit the button to shock him.
“That’s the weird thing, the whole body jumps,” Walker added. “It’s just like it is on TV or the movies.”
After administering the shock, Walker repositioned Sarles in order to open an airway for the man to breathe. Walker and DeCrow then took turn administering CPR until the emergency medical services personnel arrived approximately five minutes later.
“The tough part was I was on my way to my car, so I had nothing,” Walker said. “Of all the things I have in my training room, I had absolutely nothing. It’s good because the AED had a CPR mask and scissors, so we were able to cut his stuff off and have access to his chest.”
Once emergency services personnel arrived they took over and continued treatment. They hooked Sarles up to an IV, administered further shocks and continued to perform CPR. Walker briefed the emergency personnel on the situation while assisting by holding an IV bag. About 10 minutes later, Sarles was put into an ambulance and transported to the hospital.
Walker was not confident about Sarles’ prospects, considering the amount of work required on site. However, when he arrived to the arena the next day for the Silvertips’ game against Prince George, he was told Sarles had survived and was making progress.
“It was really nice to hear he lived and continued to improve,” Walker said.
“As far as things could have gone, I think it went real well,” Walker added. “We had a good response by the (DeCrow), (LaPier) got over there right away with the AED and I just happened to be walking by. Everything just happened to fall right.”
Ken Johnson, Sarles’ friend, said Sarles had an extended hospital stay, but has since been discharged.
“It seems like he’s doing well,” Johnson said. “I spoke with his wife earlier (Tuesday). My understanding is he had a stent put in. He’s more sore from all the CPR and defibrillation than anything else right now.”
Most importantly, Sarles is still alive, thanks in part to an assist from Walker.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
It was made by Silvertips athletic trainer Chris Walker.
Walker was called into emergency action following the Feb. 4 game to aid a recreation league hockey player who suffered a heart attack. His actions helped save the player’s life.
“It’s more intense than I thought it would be,” Walker said about his first experience with a heart attack victim. He was reluctant to take credit for the outcome.
A Greater Seattle Hockey League game was underway at the Everett Events Center’s community rink, which adjoins Comcast Arena, after the Silvertips and Thunderbirds had left the ice Feb. 4.
Walker happened to be walking the tunnel from the Silvertips locker room to the parking lot, about to head home, when he was alerted to a commotion taking place on the other side of the divider that separates the main arena from the community rink.
“I was just leaving the rink, I’d called my wife to say I was on my way and would be home in a couple minutes,” Walker said. “I was walking by the divider wall between the arena and the community rink when I heard one the of the guest services people say, ‘Do you know where our first-aid kit is?’ I asked what was going on and if anybody was hurt.”
It turned out that 56-year-old Barry Sarles had suffered a heart attack while playing in the GSHL game. Sarles was able to skate himself to the bench before collapsing on the bench’s floor.
Both Walker and Chad DeCrow, one of the arena’s Zamboni drivers, reacted quickly and arrived to find Sarles unconscious. Walker assessed Sarles’ condition, finding Sarles wasn’t breathing and had an irregular pulse. Walker called for the arena’s automatic external defibrillator (AED), which was promptly delivered by security staff member Jordan LaPier, and directed a bystander to call 911.
Walker had been trained in defibrillator use, but had never actually used one before.
“The AEDs are great because you don’t really have to do anything,” Walker said. “You turn them on and it starts to check right away. It analyzed for rhythm for him and said we needed to shock him. I told everybody to back up and hit the button to shock him.
“That’s the weird thing, the whole body jumps,” Walker added. “It’s just like it is on TV or the movies.”
After administering the shock, Walker repositioned Sarles in order to open an airway for the man to breathe. Walker and DeCrow then took turn administering CPR until the emergency medical services personnel arrived approximately five minutes later.
“The tough part was I was on my way to my car, so I had nothing,” Walker said. “Of all the things I have in my training room, I had absolutely nothing. It’s good because the AED had a CPR mask and scissors, so we were able to cut his stuff off and have access to his chest.”
Once emergency services personnel arrived they took over and continued treatment. They hooked Sarles up to an IV, administered further shocks and continued to perform CPR. Walker briefed the emergency personnel on the situation while assisting by holding an IV bag. About 10 minutes later, Sarles was put into an ambulance and transported to the hospital.
Walker was not confident about Sarles’ prospects, considering the amount of work required on site. However, when he arrived to the arena the next day for the Silvertips’ game against Prince George, he was told Sarles had survived and was making progress.
“It was really nice to hear he lived and continued to improve,” Walker said.
“As far as things could have gone, I think it went real well,” Walker added. “We had a good response by the (DeCrow), (LaPier) got over there right away with the AED and I just happened to be walking by. Everything just happened to fall right.”
Ken Johnson, Sarles’ friend, said Sarles had an extended hospital stay, but has since been discharged.
“It seems like he’s doing well,” Johnson said. “I spoke with his wife earlier (Tuesday). My understanding is he had a stent put in. He’s more sore from all the CPR and defibrillation than anything else right now.”
Most importantly, Sarles is still alive, thanks in part to an assist from Walker.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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