Cardiac arrest patient kept alive during ambulance ride to Cherokee
A recent call handled by a Gilmer County EMS crew highlights both the types of emergency calls our first responders answer each day and the miles they sometimes cover when transporting patients to a hospital.
This particular call involved a man who was having a heart attack when he arrived at Ellijay’s Piedmont ER. It was determined he needed heart catheterization, which isn’t done at the local ER, nor at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper. Instead, he had to go to Northside Cherokee Hospital in Canton.
Bad weather that April day prevented a helicopter flight, and another ambulance crew had a long wait time, so a Gilmer EMS crew, which was already dropping off a patient at the Piedmont ER, took the call, said EMS Chief Terence Evans.
“They took over patient care and got the patient to the ambulance, then he went into cardiac arrest. He was clinically dead,” said Evans. “They returned to the ER and began necessitating the patient. They got him back, and he was put on (several) different IV drips. The crew felt comfortable enough to transport him to Northside Cherokee.”
The almost 40-mile trip to Northside, which is the closest PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) capable facility with a cath lab, takes about 35 minutes by ambulance, noted Evans.
“That’s a gray area for them because they’re taking a patient from a hospital with doctors and nurses and more resources than we have,” he added. “It’s just going to be two people in the back of the ambulance with the patient, but they knew what the outcome would be (if they didn’t transport him).”
At the Cherokee hospital, the man underwent treatment that included a heart cath and removal of the blockage. The surgery was successful and the outcome the best possible one, noted Evans.
“He lived and had no neurological deficits or anything like that. Without them doing what they did, this patient would have died. He was in bad shape,” Evans said.
On the “Med-12” ambulance crew that day were paramedic Kevin Garren, paramedic Phillip Boyle, EMT Geoffrey Daves and EMT Aaron Cannady.
“Paramedics Garren and Boyle managed the advanced life support needs of the patient. Recruit Cannady was responsible for airway of the patient, and used a bag valve mask on him,” said Evans. “Because of the type of call it was, the battalion chief made a decision to take paramedic Boyle to the (ER to go in the ambulance) so they would have one more set of hands. They ended up with four on the truck, that day, which was ideal in that situation.”
At the time of the call, Cannady had just recently obtained his EMT certification. He was undergoing clinical training required by the fire department’s new recruit training program to become an advanced EMT. He’s since graduated from the recruit training program and now holds AEMT certification.
“A lot of people may go through their whole career, and they don’t experience something like this,” Evans said. “I thought it was pretty neat for him that, even before he finished recruit school, he got to be part of something like that.”
A large number of cardiac arrest patients either don’t pull through at all or suffer neurological damage from the heart attack, noted Evans. Prompt treatment is crucial to a successful outcome, he said.
“Statistically, nine out of 10 people who go into cardiac arrest don’t come back from it. This (outcome) was because of the quick care he received, which, in conjunction with the hospital, saved his life,” said Evans. “When it comes to something like that, it really takes someone who’s dedicated to learning and continuing to learn. With medicine, things change so quickly. These guys have stayed on top of it, and we’re really proud of them for that.”
Recognized by commissioners
The Gilmer County Board of Commissioners recognized the entire EMS crew with a plaque presentation at its most recent meeting.
“Gentlemen, that is absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be more proud of y’all. Thank you for all that you do,” said Charlie Paris, commission chairman, after Evans gave a rundown of the call to those in attendance.
The EMS crew’s lifesaving efforts were also recognized by the emergency cardiac care committee at Northside Cherokee, said Evans.
Gilmer Fire and Rescue is currently gearing up to start its second new recruit training academy June 26. In the program, a new group of recruits will undergo paid training to become fully certified firefighters and EMTs.
“We finished the first (recruit academy) with 10, and they’re all still here. We’re fortunate that the commissioners have backed us and allowed us to do it again,” Evans said.