PALMDALE – Seven emergency responders at Wednesday evening’s Palmdale Council meeting were recognized for their “heroic efforts” after bringing back to life a retired Los Angeles City Fire captain who suffered a heart attack on May 15, 2015.
The City Council and Los Angeles County Fire Department thanked the group for successfully providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) Cardiac Arrest treatment to retired Fire Captain David Moore at the Antelope Valley Country Club.
Honored at Wednesday’s meeting for their amazing life-saving skills were Fire Station 24 Captain Paul Stump, Engineer John Miller, Firefighter Andy Morales, Firefighter Paramedic Robert Metro, Firefighter Paramedic Brad Wolfenstein, and American Medical Response EMTs Patrick Perez and Drake Nolan.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Division V Assistant Fire Chief Gerald Cosey told the public just how the responders were able to bring Moore back to life after he collapsed and became unconscious at the AV Country Club.
“The first responders arrived and started CPR, hooking the patient up to the AED, an automatic external defibrillator, which delivers a series of shocks when the heart is not beating,” Fire Chief Cosey said. “Unsuccessful, they had to continue CPR.”
He said Paramedic Squad 37 then arrived and started an IV with cardiac medication, while following up with another “series of shocks” with their defibrillator. However, there was no response from the patient.
“Thirty minutes later after extensive efforts in their attempt to revive this man, they were able to have some cardiac simulation occurrence,” Chief Cosey said. “They then loaded up the patient and took him to the Palmdale Regional Medical Center, where he was successfully transformed from a death state to a surviving patient of a cardiac arrest.”
Chief Cosey said the hospital had to put Capt. Moore into a medically-induced coma. He came out of the coma four days later, “and three days after that, he left the hospital to rejoin his family at home – and lead a healthy life after that,” Chief Cosey said.
“None of that could have occurred without those heroic efforts from these folks here.”
Making an appearance at the Palmdale Council meeting to reunite with his rescuers, Capt. Moore was presented with a “re-birth certificate” from Chief Cosey.
“Needless to say, I’m probably the most happiest person in this room,” Capt. Moore said. “And I love each and every one of these guys.”
Moore said he spent 14 of his 31-year career serving alongside paramedics and was not able to count how many people he had saved.
“But we tried to save everybody,” he said. “And to think that one day after I retired I would be in the same position, hoping that the guys would take care of me just like I took care of other people – I’m so thrilled.”
He described the tireless efforts of the emergency responders and how they refused to give up on saving his life at the country club.
“You guys have no idea how tiring it is to perform CPR,” he explained. “One person cannot do it for 30 minutes. These guys were rotating, taking turns – and they had to compress my chest so much so that the members at the country club thought ‘you’re killing him by pushing on his chest so hard.'”
Admitting how his chest had hurt for nearly two and a half months following the incident, he said it was a minor price to pay compared to the second chance he had received from this dedicated crew of emergency responders.
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Pleasant101 says
I lost my dad a little over two and half weeks ago due to cardiac arrest. The responders and everyone involved did an amazing job and I was floored at the measures they took to save him. It was like they were trying to save someone they knew and didn’t give up until it was well after the point of no return. I didn’t get the names of anyone that showed that night but if you are reading this, thank you. The sheriff that pulled us aside and said that he was fighting so hard for his life was something that I will never forget. I am sure they have a routine that they run thru but it was all done well. I even got an “unnofficial” police escort to the hospital which allowed me to spend the last minutes with him. Very beautifully done in a tough moment in our lives.
Andrew says
Amr crews run so many calls, it’s hard to recount every call or matter unless you have a personal connection to the call. But regardless Amr works hard filled with good people and characters. Not like the ass sup who is full of himself.. Good job emts. Much given respect. And even if they weren’t on that call, I give them credit for all the other saves n hard work.
Rebecca says
Perfectly said. AMR employees work extremely hard with crappy pay and they do it for people like this man who is grateful. I don’t understand why anyone would put a negative comment like this. It’s shameful on him. Thank you EMTs for still putting up with the negative and still saving lives. There are some who still appreciate it.
ERIK says
@ Rebecca and Andrew. You both made a wonderful point. AMR employees deserve so much gratitude.
Many years ago I spent a lot of time around the old Wilson Ambulance in Palmdale and received quite an education on what these men and women do. I like that you guys mentioned the “employees” as a whole because the dispatchers are also busting their humps to make sure responses are prompt.
Some of these AMR crews are just young kids and they are always clean-cut, well-spoken, and on their way to great things in life. I really have an appreciation for them.
Mike from you know where says
Hi :)
Honestly, I’m not the only one that reads these things and comments, there’s like 80 different people that work there and have their own opinions and voice them occasionally here too. If that’s what you think about me that’s great. But on this particular website I’ve been a pure spectator. Not being generally liked doesn’t bother me in the slightest but to assume that every time something controversial is posted on some form of social media it’s automatically the guy who’s full of himself is rather….disjointedly niave.
Integrity? says
There needs to be a retraction and a printed correction. The AMR EMTs recognized in this photo were not the ones that ran this call. EMT Taylor Warmuth and EMT Jarred Casselberry should be the correct recipients of this recognition and should be pictured as such. Why those EMTs shook the hand of a man expressing his deepest gratitude for saving his life when they know they had nothing to do with it is a question of their personal integrity for another story but in the mean time I hope AV Times sees this and gives the recognition to the REAL AMR crew that has thus far kept quiet.
Grateful citizen says
And who are you? You don’t have integrity to put you’re name b/c you know what you’re saying is just negative and wrong. They have paper work for every call so they can record who ran them. Don’t ruin a recognition and this article by putting a comment like this. Thank you to the EMTs and firemen pictured HERE. Some of the people in the world know how hard you work and it’s nice to see you being recognized and seeing a grateful man. Thank you!
Unknown says
EMTS do the same amount as a firefighter. Just because they don’t put out fires doesn’t mean they don’t save lives an emt should get treated and recognized the same.. Very proud of the EMTS & Firefighters that were on scene and saved this mans life.. City council thank you for recognizing the EMTS that were on scene as well
Anna says
Sorry but emts do not have als only bls paramedics do much more and the fire dept paramedics have the floor on the scene….while emts do work hard in a crucial life saving its the medics who make the difference…why you always see them at most calls….
DAVID says
i have so much respect for the fire department, as these men, and women do everything, and do it well. this country would be nothing without them. thank you, one and all
Mike says
What about AMR and us EMT’S that perform 60% of the assistants on scene?
EMT says
We’re used to being ignored, it’s okay. At least the crew that responded to this call was recognized by the city council. That’s all that matters. Congrats to everyone who was there and helped out.
Mike From AMR says
Just a clarification that the above comment was not like by Mike from AMR lol…just trying to CYA for all the Fire guys who will read this and assume it’s me lol
Mike from AMR says
Left*