Brandon Lauer

Brandon Lauer has dedicated 12 years to emergency medical services, including the past five years serving the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). Before joining USAFA, Brandon spent five years as an EMT/Firefighter, building the experience and clinical judgment that have become hallmarks of his EMS career.

On February 5, 2026, Brandon and his partner, Charles Nunez, responded to an emergency involving a USAFA cadet who had been struck directly in the chest by a lacrosse ball. What initially appeared to be a sports-related injury had resulted in cardiac arrest. The cadet’s coach immediately began CPR while awaiting EMS.

Upon arrival, Brandon and Charles recognized the significance of the chest impact and identified commotio cordis as the likely cause of the cardiac arrest. Commotio cordis is a rare and often fatal event in which a blow to the chest at a precise moment in the heart’s electrical cycle can trigger sudden cardiac arrest. Recognizing such an uncommon condition requires providers to connect the mechanism of injury with a potentially catastrophic cardiac event.

Brandon and Charles immediately provided lifesaving care and worked together to stabilize the cadet for transport. Their attention to the cause of the emergency remained critical throughout the response. At the emergency department, they communicated the circumstances of the cardiac arrest and their suspicion of commotio cordis to the receiving team, providing physicians with important information during a rare and time-sensitive emergency.

The outcome was remarkable: the cadet survived and walked out of the hospital alive and well.

Brandon brings the same commitment to every patient he serves. His supervisor describes him as someone who never gives less than 100 percent of his care and compassion, whether responding to a simple injury or a life-threatening cardiac arrest. His response to this extraordinary call demonstrated the clinical awareness, decisive action, communication, and teamwork that are essential to excellent emergency medical care.

Outside of EMS, Brandon is a devoted husband and father of two who enjoys hunting and spending quality time with his family. His dedication to others is evident both in the care he provides his patients and in the life he leads away from the ambulance.

Through 12 years of EMS service, Brandon has demonstrated compassion, sound clinical judgment, and a steadfast commitment to those who depend on him. His role in recognizing and responding to an exceptionally rare cardiac emergency helped give a young cadet the chance to return home to a healthy future. Brandon Lauer is proudly recognized as a Star of Life.