Patients reunite with parmedics on Restart a Heart Day

It’s not often paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) get to reunite with cardiac arrest survivors, so officers jumped at the chance to meet their patients on Restart a Heart Day on 16 October, reports Madolyn Sushames.

Restart a Heart Day is a global initiative to raise awareness and educate the community about how to deliver effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) properly.

Effective CPR saved 69-year-old Gary Campbell’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest while driving near his Blacksoil home with wife Denise in July.

Denise called Triple Zero (000) immediately and EMD Emily Gordon talked Denise and bystanders through CPR until paramedics arrived.

Paramedics Nicholas Abrussi and Alysha Borowski said this immediate action saved Gary’s life.

Nick said each intervention was on key and the crew did a fantastic job being able to get Gary back after he rearrested.

“Just before I went on holidays, I did two or three cardiac arrests in my last week and none of them survived,” he said.

“But that’s the unfortunate reality as only 10 per cent of people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

“So, it’s really good to be able to meet with Gary and his family and see he’s doing well.” On that day paramedics delivered 10 shocks and transported Gary to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he received an implantable defibrillator, and he is now well on the road to recovery.

Across town, more QAS paramedics reunited with a young mum from Elimbah who suffered a cardiac arrest at home in October 2020, just two months after giving birth.

Vicky Rogers and her family celebrated Restart a Heart Day by sharing their story with the officers who helped save her life.

It was just after midday when Vicky collapsed, and her dad noticed her breathing was abnormal, so he called Triple Zero (000).

EMD Kaitlyn Airey helped him stay calm and talked him through CPR until paramedics arrived.

Vicky was technically without a heartbeat for 12 minutes and after four shocks and medication, she finally regained a heartbeat.

Paramedics Jack Williams, Allison Boehm and Carley Carney with Vicky Rogers and her dad David and son Ledger.

These stories serve as a timely reminder for us to keep spreading our message in the community of the three simple steps to saving a life:

1 CALL Triple Zero (000) immediately

2 PUSH hard and fast on the chest with CPR

3 SHOCK the patient with early defibrillation

Headline photo: Paramedics Nicholas Abrussi and Alysha Borowski (right) with patient Gary Campbell and wife Denise Scott.