On December 11th at 0900 hours at the Manatee County Public Safety Building during the Manatee County monthly awards ceremony they provided Phoenix Award Recognitions to both Southern Manatee Fire Rescue Personnel as well as Manatee County Paramedics for saving the life of a cardiac arrest victim. However in addition to being recognized for saving the life of this patient, they actually were “Thanked” personally by the patient and his family.

Back on October 28, 2018 at 18:40 hours, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue and Manatee County EMS responded to 5112 39th Avenue East for a report of a cardiac arrest patient. Our Engine 341 arrived on scene within 5 minutes and found the patient lying unconscious on the driveway with CPR being performed by family members. Our personnel resumed CPR and began airway care by suctioning the patient’s airway and then inserted an airway and then resumed utilizing the bag-value-mask with 100% oxygen.

Manatee County EMS Paramedic’s arrived on scene and immediately began Advanced Life Support. After starting advanced treatments and administering medications, the patient was defibrillated twice and after the 2nd defibrillation, the patient regained a pulse and blood pressure. The patient was then transported to Manatee Memorial Emergency Department and shortly after their arrival, this patient went to the Cath lab were the blocked coronary artery was found and a stent placed which immediately began flowing oxygenated blood to the area of the heart that was being deprived. This patient was released to go home with no neurological deficits.

The family members, SMFR and Manatee County Paramedics were given Phoenix Recognition over saving the life of this patient and the patient himself and his family were able to thank everyone to saving his life.

This was a text book case of the 5 links in the chain of survival, rapid recognition of the emergency, calling 9-1-1, immediately performing CPR and deployment of the AED, and rapid response of BLS and ALS, if all of these links are connected the resuscitation outcome of a patient is greatly increased. That is why it is so important for citizens to learn CPR and know how to use an AED.

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