Staff writer
The night began like any other during basketball season.
Ellinwood High School gym was full of fans, band members, players, and coaches — all wanting their team to win.
The Eagles were playing host to Marion, and the night was going off without a hitch through the first half of the girls’ varsity game.
What no one in the main gymnasium knew was the third quarter was about to be anything but ordinary.
Less than five minutes in, he hit the floor.
Official Phil Nusser, an eight-year veteran, had experienced a heart attack because of a blood clot.
MHS head coach Randy Savage didn’t see him fall, but he saw another official blow his whistle and wave his arms.
MHS parent and registered nurse Janet Zeiner didn’t see it happen either.
She was looking at the opposite end of the court when a friend nudged her and said, “Hey, you’re a nurse. I think they need you.”
Immediate action
Zeiner still wasn’t sure what had happened, but she sprang to her feet and ran on the court.
At first she thought Nusser had tripped and hurt himself, but when she reached him it was obvious that wasn’t the case.
Zeiner tried to take his pulse but found there was none.
The nurse then helped EMT and EHS graduate, Jane Billinger, who was administering chest compressions on Nusser, by using CPR breathing techniques to bring him back to life.
Zeiner said an EHS assistant coach knew where the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and brought it over to them.
Nusser responded after the AED was used, and Zeiner said he was answering questions by the time the ambulance arrived.
Nusser’s brother, Kelly, who is the athletic director at Lyons High School, said his older brother was then flown to Hutchinson where a blood clot, which had caused the heart attack, was removed.
The only physical signs for Nusser of the heart attack were a bruise to the face and bloodshot eyes.
He has since returned part-time to his job as Stafford County Roads and Bridge supervisor.
Zeiner said modern AEDs can be used by anyone, and now have patches to place on the victims chest.
The machine tells you exactly where to put the patches, and advises when a button should be pushed to administer the shock.
Zeiner said she pushed the button after someone else placed the patches on Nusser’s chest.
“It was a team effort,” she said.
Zeiner, who said some people she knows have been calling her a “hero,” backed away from that description.
“I feel like someone else in my position would have done the same thing,” she said.
What Zeiner wants people to learn from this situation is preparation and quick-thinking are the keys.
“Fast-action is what saved him,” she said. “If that would have happened during halftime and he was in the bathroom stall or something, there wouldn’t have been enough time. Immediate action is what saves lives.”
She also said EHS was properly prepared for something to happen.
“She knew where the AED was. That’s the important thing.”
Knowing what to do
Luckily for Nusser, EHS was prepared for the situation, and that probably saved his life.
Marion-Florence USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker said the situation will help to better prepare his district.
“It caused you to re-analyze what you are doing to try and be prepared,” Leiker said.
The district has one AED which was on the pool side of the USD 408 Sports and Aquatics Center.
However, it is not on the gymnasium side because sometimes when the building is open, the pool side is locked.
Having it on the gym side gives someone a better chance at finding the machine.
Leiker did say he is looking into getting two more AEDs to be placed at the elementary and middle/high school buildings.
The incident also got Zeiner to think what would happen if the school had not been prepared.
“I just kind of live in my own little world and assume everyone knows CPR,” she said.
Talking to people after the incident made her realize most people do not, but she said that shouldn’t stop someone who is not trained from trying if they are the only available option.
“If they aren’t breathing, they are dead,” Zeiner said. “You can’t make them more dead. It’s intimidating, but if you don’t do anything, they will be dead for sure.”
Zeiner said everyone who was helping didn’t do every step exactly how the American Red Cross suggests, but in a time of crisis it’s hard to be perfect — and in this instance, perfection wasn’t the key, fast-action was.
Kelly Nusser agreed.
He was was able to meet Zeiner this past week when Lyons played basketball at Marion.
“From what I understand everyone who worked together (to save him) was outstanding,” Nusser said. “My brother is an extremely lucky individual that the people who were there responded as quickly as they did.”
Zeiner said the MHS girls’ basketball team may have leant a hand as well.
While Nusser was still on the court the players stood in the hall holding hands and praying for the official.
“That’s really what saved him,” Zeiner said. “It’s nice to see they know where to turn when it seems like there is nowhere else.”
Kelly was able to go to Hutchinson the night of incident, and see that his brother was awake.
Phil was in a cervical collar because doctors were worried the fall could have cause some injuries.
In the end, it did not.
“He was probably complaining more about (the collar) than anything,” Kelley joked.
By then, it was OK to laugh.