Corrections Award

Quick Response Saves Life

Since 1993, St. Louis County has annually recognized the efforts of those individuals who have worked together, often compromising their own safety, to save the life of another person or persons.

Corrections Officer Mike Marshall:

Jail inmates had just finished their evening meal. Corrections Officer Mike Marshall was removing the dinner trays when he was approached by an inmate. This inmate reported that another inmate appeared to be having a seizure and would not respond. Corrections Officer Marshall called a Code Blue which lead to a coordinated rescue effort on the part of several on-duty jail staff.

The victim was sitting in a chair, unresponsive, with labored breathing when Marshall arrived. Marshall held the victim's head until other staff arrived seconds later. Together, they lowered the victim to the floor, and detected no pulse or breathing. CPR was immediately initiated and oxygen was administered with a CPR mask and then with an oxygen bag.

After administering approximately 3 cycles of CPR, the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was applied. The victim was shocked twice. Chest compressions and oxygen delivery continued until paramedics and the ambulance arrived approximately 9 minutes later to take over.

As staff initially worked on the victim, others assisted in locking down the remaining inmates in the unit, as well as checking medical records on the victim, and retrieving medical supplies. All staff worked as a team and took turns performing CPR on the victim. The victim was transported by ambulance to a cardiac intensive care unit where it was determined he had a heart attack.

Thanks to the quick initial response by Corrections Officer Marshall, and the excellent team work demonstrated by Sgt. Erick Keppler, Program Coordinator Mary Roling, Corrections Officer Jim Pigman, Program Facilitator Tammy Lemke, Corrrections Officer Warren Johnson, Corrections Officer Mark Ostrov, and Corrections Officer Ray Sundin, this rescue had a successful outcome.