Master Chief Information Systems Technician (Submarines) Richard Okrasinski, of Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, rendered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a 14-year-old girl during a soccer game, Oct. 10.

Okrasinski said had every intention of joining the Navy and becoming a hospital corpsman. However, his anticipated entry date didn't match his eagerness. Not willing to wait, he jumped at the opportunity to become, what the recruiter considered the next best thing, a fireman. At the time, he didn't realize that everyone who joined the military was essentially a fire fighter.

Okrasinski chuckled as he reflected back on the chain of events, but without missing a beat, he marveled at the experiences the Navy gave him for more than 21 years.

In addition to his long years of military service, Okrasinski has been an emergency medical technician (EMT) for 22 years, a tradition that runs in his family. His father was an EMT for 30 years, and his sister for 18. Therefore, he said, the life-saving techniques he was able to administer during the game were second nature.

Okrasinski revisited the experience he witnessed while coaching that Saturday afternoon.

"It was the last quarter of the soccer game," he said. "The young lady collapsed on the field. I knew there was a problem because the ball hadn't come in contact with the player."

He described how intensely the atmosphere changed. Players were taking a knee. Her coach ran quickly to her, then waved to the side lines for help. Okrasinski along with his sister, father, and 13-year-old son, Evan, all rushed to where the girl was laying. The master chief's years of training immediately kicked in.

"I handed my phone to a bystander while it was dialing 9-1-1 and got down to check her breathing. She wasn't breathing so I gave her two breaths while her coach started compressions. I had Evan run to the car and get my CPR mask," he said, taking a long pause to gather his composure. "We did CPR for about 10 minutes."

Okrasinski said he remembers looking into her eyes during the intervals of performing mouth-to-mouth. He could hear his sister talking to the patient.

"Keep up the fight. You can do it," she repeated while they continued to look for signs of breathing.

They discovered a pulse, though well below 10 beats per minute.

Okrasinski continued rescue breaths and then used a bag-valve-mask until rescue units arrived. His father cleared the path for the fire department and paramedics to get through. The paramedics attached an automated external defibrillator, and after two shocks, she was breathing on her own.

Later that day, Okrasinski was made aware that the young girl survived and was in good condition. He continued on with his day; fueled his car and headed out on his pre-planned road trip. Every day thereafter was spent as he typically would, putting on his khaki uniform and heading to and from work.

Then one day, it was brought to his attention that the family wanted an opportunity to address the individuals responsible for saving the young girl's life.

He hadn't seen the young girl since the traumatic incident.

Okrasinski said was very unsure of what he would say, prior to the meet and greet session. He shrugged and simple said, "I'd hope that if it was my child, someone would have done the same thing I did."

Chesapeake Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, hosted the celebratory event, Nov 6.

Captain Scott Saunders, Chesapeake Fire Department representative, said that the young girl's chances of survival increased because of those that helped out that day. He also provided some great advice.

"Get out there and learn bystander CPR," said Saunders. "When someone goes into cardiac arrest, it is vital in the survivability of cardiac arrest patients."

Though no team was declared the winner of that Saturday game, the real winner was the 14-year-old girl who was given a second chance at life.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic, visit http://www.navy.mil/.