Mission accomplished 200%: Our officers saved not one, but two lives

In the past few days, marked by extreme heat, things were also hot for the officers from the Banská Bystrica-Kráľová Prison and Detention Center. Within a few days, they saved two human lives, and not just within the prison walls, but this time also outside of them.

It was likely the high temperatures at the outdoor workplace that led to the fact that regime officer 1st Lt. Rastislav Šatan was called to an inmate who was feeling unwell. Despite ensuring a hydration regimen and multiple measures to protect against high temperatures, the inmate's body was collapsing. He responded slowly to the officer's questions, appeared disoriented, and was also experiencing tremors. During the conversation with the officer, the inmate's health began to gradually improve. Nevertheless, after consultation with the institutional doctor, his escort back to the facility was arranged. However, even before the escort vehicle arrived, the inmate suddenly collapsed. Realizing that there was no time to lose, 1st Lt. Šatan began immediate resuscitation and simultaneously gave the instruction to call for emergency medical services. Until the arrival of the emergency medical service, he continued resuscitation according to the instructions of medical professionals who guided him over the phone. The inmate occasionally regained consciousness and reacted, but then immediately collapsed again. After the ambulance arrived, the inmate was taken to the hospital, properly examined, and since he refused hospitalization, he was released against medical advice and escorted back to the facility. Currently, the diagnosis of his health condition continues, accompanied by appropriate treatment, but most importantly, he is alive.

A completely different situation also faced another officer of the corps, 1st Lt. JUDr. Andrej Kováč, a pedagogue in the sentencing department, who did not underestimate the situation and, beyond his duties, acted thoroughly to save a potentially endangered human life. A significantly agitated inmate came to the pedagogue's office, claiming that while he didn't know exactly what happened, during a phone call with his 76-year-old partner, he realized that she had likely fallen, was lying on the ground, and could not move or call for help. Although inmates often provide inaccurate, vague, or misinterpreted information, the pedagogue, considering the extreme heat, age, and health condition of the inmate's partner, evaluated the situation as a human life at risk and that it was necessary to immediately call emergency medical services even outside the prison walls. After describing the situation and providing all available information, an ambulance was dispatched to the inmate's partner, which, according to the inmate, found her in a serious medical condition and immediately hospitalized her. The inmate sincerely thanked the pedagogue and, a few days later, stated that although his partner is still hospitalized, if it weren't for the observant and thorough intervention of the pedagogue, the situation could have turned out completely differently.

Both cases are proof that professionalism, quick decision-making, and the human approach of the officers of the Prison and Judicial Guard Corps can determine the most precious thing – saving a human life.