FDNY Firefighters and EMS Members Save Woman in Cardiac Arrest

 

 

FDNY firefighters, paramedics and EMTs worked together on July 18 to save the life of a 31-year old woman in cardiac arrest.

“It’s great for all of us to have the chance to save someone so young,” said Fire Lt. Andrew Serra of Engine 231.

A call was received at 1:44 p.m. for a woman in cardiac arrest at 1709 East New York Ave.

Firefighters from Engine 231 were the first to arrive on the scene and were met by nervous neighbors who said the victim was diabetic and had suffered a seizure in their second-floor apartment.

They quickly rushed to her aid and found her face down on the living room floor, without a pulse.

Firefighter Chris Corbett, a former paramedic, immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Firefighters Ryan McNamara and James Denn (detailed from Engine 332) assisted with chest compressions and rescue breathing as Firefighter Brendan Mooney hooked up the automated external defibrillator (AED).

The firefighters gave her two shocks with the AED to restore her heart rhythm and continued administering CPR.

Moments later, EMTs Peter Bilardello and Jean Mary Baptiste arrived and rushed to transport her to their awaiting ambulance.

EMT Bilardello said they continued doing rescue breathing and chest compressions on the way out, and had to shock her again with the AED.

As they loaded her into the ambulance, they were met by Paramedics Brendan Konrad and Ajay Sharma, who then intubated her. Paramedic Konrad said she had a slow ventricular rate as they rushed her to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, and had to shock her two more times.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, she had a steady pulse. And she was healthy enough to be released from the medical center on July 22.

“Everyone worked so well together at this job,” said Konrad, who was promoted to the rank of paramedic on July 8. He said this was his first cardiac save since being promoted.

EMT Bilardello said this, too, was his first save since graduating from the EMS Academy in April, “I’m happy I could make a difference. It feels really good to know she’ll be OK.”