By Deborah Fleck
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006 The Dallas Morning News
He lay on the ground, his face a shade of blue. He was dying, suddenly and without warning. The call went out for help.
Sarah Rahm knew what to do. The Irving High senior ran to the man’s side and checked his vital signs. There was no pulse. He wasn’t breathing.
She immediately started chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Then a nurse, a medical student and an off-duty paramedic came to help. They took turns until the ambulance arrived.
James Pratt survived, after quadruple bypass surgery at Baylor Medical Center at Irving.
Sarah went to visit him during his 10-day hospital stay. “He told me he was thankful there are people out there like me,” the 18-year-old said.
The Irving Fire Department also appreciated her efforts.
“I know it was hard to run up and save someone,” Irving acting Fire Chief Mike Evitts said as he presented her with a framed letter of commendation on Monday morning at the Fire Administration Building.
He also honored the off-duty paramedic, Brian Hindman of Station No. 10 in Valley Ranch. “We are proud of you for doing all you could,” Mr. Evitts said to the 15-year department veteran.
Mr. Hindman and Sarah were at Trinity View Park in Irving on Sept. 25 when their altruism kicked into gear. Sarah was playing softball, and Mr. Hindman was watching his son’s game.
Mr. Pratt had just finished warming up for his softball game. The 60-year-old Arlington resident started playing fast-pitch in 1970 but switched to adult softball about five or six years ago. His friends call him Cheeseburger after one of his favorite foods.
“I don’t remember anything,” he said about walking off the field after warming up. “I had no chest pains.”
His teammates thought he was kidding when he first slumped to the ground. But they soon realized he was in serious trouble. They spread out searching for help.
“The rescue mode just kicked in,” said Sarah, who knew CPR from her summer job as a lifeguard at Hurricane Harbor in Arlington. “But afterwards, it kind of freaked me out.”
At her job, she had only two saves - when a boy almost got his arm cut off and when a girl had a seizure in the pool.
“I didn’t think I’d ever have to use my skills outside my job,” she said.
She didn’t hesitate to use her skills at the softball fields.
Mr. Hindman soon joined her. “It was the first time I had to perform a save without my toys,” he said about working without his paramedic gear.
Their efforts paid off. Mr. Pratt started breathing again. The color returned to his face.
The doctors at Baylor Irving did the rest.
Betty Pratt still can’t believe that she almost lost her husband. “He was always the healthy one,” she said.
Mr. Pratt said he would be more careful with his health and stay away from cheeseburgers. He hopes to play softball again in the spring.
When he heard the Fire Department was honoring Sarah and Mr. Hindman, he wanted to be there. As the two who helped save him held their awards, Mr. Pratt said, “I’ve received the biggest award of all.”