Photo By Shelby West | Naval Support Activity (NSA) Portsmouth Supervisory Captain Bryan Ballard and other...... read more read more
Recently, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Portsmouth Supervisory Captain Bryan Ballard assisted a passenger in need of medical assistance while on a flight from Washington Dulles National Airport to South Carolina. The patient was in cardiac arrest and, after 19 years in Fire and Emergency Services, Ballard’s expertise paid off.
“It was a small plane, I think there were only about 50 people on there, and I could see that the flight attendant had a nervous expression on his face,” said Ballard. “So, I turned around, looked, and I could see a younger guy trying to get this woman out of her seat and I went over and helped.”
Another passenger had asked the flight attendant for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and while waiting, Captain Ballard checked for the distressed passenger’s pulse and did not detect one.
“We were provided the AED, I put the pads on her, I told the other passenger to analyze her with the AED, and the system recommended ‘shock advised,’ so we shocked her, and then I started doing chest compressions on her,” said Ballard. “And after about two minutes, I checked for a pulse again, and I could feel a really weak pulse, but after that, we just kind of tried to maintain her airways so she could breathe.”
The pilots made an emergency landing in South Carolina where first responders boarded the plane and rushed the distressed passenger to a local hospital for further medical assistance.
Captain Ballard was commended by NSA-Portsmouth Commanding Officer Captain R. Stephen Ramsey for his decisive action and response to a life-threatening medical emergency while he was off duty.
“By rendering aid without being called upon, and while off duty, he upheld and elevated the noble tradition of our profession,” said Ramsey in the award citation. “His conduct is in keeping with the finest ideals of valor and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Navy.”
Ballard finds the most rewarding part of his job working with the public and helping people, even during unexpected times like on his flight.
“When you go on calls or if something happens off duty like it did, try and stay professional,” said Ballard. “Even if you don't think it's the worst day of their life, the individual you’re assisting may think it's the worst day of their life.”
When he’s off-duty, Ballard enjoys spending time with his family and working out. Recently, he and members of his family attended a Baltimore Orioles baseball game.
“I like hanging out with my daughter and going shopping with her too,” said Ballard. “My wife and I also enjoy going to concerts and local sporting events like the Norfolk Tides baseball games.”
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 551100 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Naval Support Activity Portsmouth Supervisory Captain Renders Aid While Off Duty, by Susanne Greene, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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