Rescuers to Receive Phoenix Award Jan 13

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY Jan 13 NEWS from BONITA SPRINGS FIRE-RESCUE

December 23, 2013 Contact: Natalie Hughes

239-949-6227

239-910-0749 cell

RESCUERS TO RECEIVE PHOENIX AWARD JAN 13 Bonita Springs’ firefighters will be recognized on January 13th at 5:00 p.m. at Fire Station Four, 27701 Bonita Grande Drive, with the District’s most prestigious honor – The Phoenix Award. The crew of firefighters will be honored for saving the life of a Bonita Springs resident.

The Phoenix award goes to firefighters on Rescue 21 and Engine 21 who responded to the aid of a man who had slumped over on the pool deck and became unresponsive after climbing out of a City of Bonita Springs Parks and Recreation public swimming pool on December 2, 2013. The crew dispatched to the cardiac arrest arrived to find that CPR was being administered by witnesses, which included a lifeguard and ER doctor who were on scene when the incident occurred. With no patient pulse or respirations, FF Steven Edelsberg and FF Terry Bonnell immediately continued chest compressions and lung ventilations. Lt. Eric Madden and Lt. James Lamb deployed a heart monitor which determined the patient was in severe idioventricular rhythm. Lt. Eric Madden intubated the patient using a video guided scope and FF Allan Seruchar drilled into the bone marrow of the patient’s right leg using an EZ-IO device in an attempt to gain intravenous access. Lt. James Lamb began infusing the patient’s bone marrow with medications. After EMS arrived, they reassessed the patient and determined that the patient’s heart rhythm was V-Fib, which would require defibrillation, the shocking of the heart. CPR continued and the patient’s heart was shocked four times with no said improvement. Lt. Eric Madden advised that the patient’s heart rhythm was not traditional V-Fib and another route would need to be taken. Lt. James Lamb suggested administering magnesium sulfate through the IO in the leg. After the injection they concurred that a pulse could be felt and the patient was breathing. These five firefighters worked relentlessly on the patient for nearly 45 minutes before he was stable enough for transport. FF Allan Seruchar rode in with the patient on the ambulance to monitor his breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and to continue to monitor the bone marrow drug infusion.

The Bonita Springs Fire District has extended a heartfelt invitation for the award presentation to the patient and his family with the hope of reuniting the firefighters and patient again.

In order to recognize the dedication and skill of emergency responders, Bonita Springs Fire-Rescue adopted the Phoenix Award after implementing advanced life support services in March of 1999. The Phoenix is recognized as a symbol of excellence and also a mythical bird, said to rise again from its ashes.