Station 2 Crew Revives Patient Suffering From Cardiac Arrest
Madison, WI 53719
Ladder Company 2 and Medic 2 responded to a west-side business after an employee reported finding a co-worker unconscious. Crews were escorted up a narrow, steep staircase to a confined area where the patient was lying unresponsive.
Firefighter/Paramedics and Firefighter/EMTs quickly determined the patient was pulse-less and not breathing. They repositioned the patient, and Ladder Company 2 began performing CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) was prepared to deliver shocks.
Ladder 2 and Medic 2 performed CPR for eight minutes, delivered a total of three shocks from the AED, and administered medications to facilitate revival. After eight minutes of continuous compressions, pulses returned and vital signs were restored.
The next challenge was getting the patient from the confined space to the ambulance. Engine Company 7 was asked to provide specialized equipment and some helping hands as the three crews safely moved the patient down to a stretcher and into the back of Medic 2.
Paramedics report the patient’s condition continued to improve during transport to the UW Hospital emergency room. She was eventually admitted to the ICU.
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Seconds count during cardiac arrest, and bystanders are critical links in the chain of survival. If you witness a sudden cardiac arrest, call 911 or ask another bystander to do so. Then immediately begin continuous chest compressions, hard and fast in the center of the chest.
Individuals who have had any level of CPR training are encouraged to download the PulsePoint app, which alerts you when someone nearby is in need of chest compressions. PulsePoint also offers in-app CPR refresher courses.