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Lynbrook Firefighters Honored by Town of Hempstead Story & photos by Ex Captain Steven Grogan On November 29,
2018, six Lynbrook firefighters, part of a team of first responders
who saved the life of a Lynbrook mother back in April, were honored
by Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura A. Gillen at the Town of
Hempstead’s Annual Firematic Awards ceremony at Town Hall.
The honorees were Third Assistant Chief John Donald, First
Lieutenant/EMT Kaitlin Curran, Second Lieutenant/EMT Kacie Curran,
Ex-Captain/EMT Cathy Bien, Firefighter/EMT Alex Mertz, and
Firefighter/EMT Shannon Tracey. Chief
William Abrams attended the ceremony as did Lynbrook Mayor Alan
Beach, and a large crowd of firefighters, friends and family.
Back on April 29th, 2018,
Lynbrook’s firefighters were dispatched by Nassau County FIRECOM at
0926 hours to a reported 43-year-old “unconscious female” at a home
on Dorothy Place. Third Assistant Fire Chief John Donald,
while responding to the scene, was notified by radio that Lynbrook
police officers had arrived at the home and had begun CPR on the
mother of two. The
mother was in cardiac arrest and showed no signs of life. When Chief Donald arrived at the home, so
did the Northwell ambulance. Lynbrook
Police Sergeant Sean Haffey led them to the second floor where
Police Officer Kevin Hoffman was performing chest compressions on
the mother who was lying on a bedroom floor and not breathing.
Another Lynbrook police officer, Jeff Burke, was
administering rescue breaths utilizing a Bag Valve Mask and also
monitoring the automatic External Defibrillator (AED).
The officers had already administered a shock from the AED
without success. The
husband had tried CPR before the officers arrived, also without
success. Chief Donald immediately notified FIRECOM by
radio that they had a “Signal 61” for a confirmed cardiac arrest.
The police officers then administered a
second shock from the AED.
Again, no response. As chest compressions and rescue breaths
continued, Chief Donald relieved PO Hoffman and maintained the chest
compressions while Northwell EMT Ashford relieved PO Burke and
continued rescue breaths.
Northwell paramedic Lebenns assisted by assessing the woman
and applying life support techniques.
At this time, the Lynbrook Fire Department
Emergency Medical Company ambulance arrived.
Lynbrook EMT/Ex-Captain Cathy Bien relieved Northwell EMT
Ashford who was still providing rescue breaths, while Lynbrook
Firefighter/EMT Alex Mertz relieved Chief Donald and continued chest
compressions. As the
effort went on, Lynbrook Firefighter/EMT Shannon Tracy relieved
EMT/Ex-Captain Bien in providing rescue breaths.
While the rescue effort continued upstairs,
Lynbrook EMT/First Lieutenant Kaitlyn Curran and EMT/Second
Lieutenant Kacie Curran obtained vital medical information from the
husband and also assisted with the family’s two small children.
Meanwhile,
numerous and repeated cycles of CPR continued with the first
responders rotating while also continuing to shock the woman.
Finally, a faint pulse was obtained.
Northwell Supervisor CC Paramedic Keith Wilken arrived with a
LUCAS CPR device which replaced manual compressions.
Now with the woman alive and breathing, the
team of first responders now had to get her down from the second
floor. Due to the tight
layout of the house the woman had to be loaded into a REEVES Sleeve
to carry her down to then be put on the stretcher.
She was transported in the Northwell
ambulance, escorted by a Lynbrook police car, to South Nassau
Communities Hospital.
The mother was placed in the Cardiac Care Unit in serious but stable
condition. Today, the mother, after some
rehabilitation, is doing fine.
“The prompt, continued, and unselfish acts of all Lynbrook’s first responders on the scene were instrumental in successfully rendering aid and assistance to another human being resulting in the saving of this resident’s life. They all deserve our thanks” said Lynbrook Fire Chief William Abrams, who was on hand for the Town Hall ceremony as was Lynbrook mayor Alan Beach.
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