A Firefighter Is Back On The Job After A Cardiac Arrest

MANCHESTER, NH — A Manchester firefighter who was pulled lifeless from a fire in May is back on the job. On Monday, the firefighter had the opportunity to thank those who saved his life at an event at Manchester's AMR headquarters.

The incident involved several firefighters and EMS personnel. The incident was described by AMR Regional Director Christopher Stawasz:

"On Monday May 25, 2020 Manchester Firefighters responded to 466 South Beech St. around 10:30 a.m. for reports of smoke coming from a 2 1/2-story home. They encountered a fire upon arrival.

Manchester Firefighter, Craig Ferry, 53 was assigned to Engine 9 that morning. Engine 9 entered the residence under heavy smoke and heat conditions to attack the fire.

Firefighter Ferry and the Engine 9 crew made entry to the fire. Crew members witnessed Firefighter Ferry go down and become unresponsive, and was in cardiac arrest.

A Mayday was called, and Firefighter Ferry was just inside the doorway. He was quickly removed from the fire building by his fellow firefighters and brought outside."

As is the case with all working fires in Manchester, an AMR ambulance was dispatched on the initial fire company response. AMR ALS1, with Paramedic Supervisor Mary Woo and Paramedic Jeffrey Brule on board, was waiting close by with their gear and stretcher.

It was 10:42 a.m. when Ferry was brought out of the fire building to them. He was not breathing, had no pulse, and was blue. His firefighting gear was quickly removed, CPR was initiated, and he was placed in the ambulance.

EKG pads were applied and showed ventricular fibrillation — a lethal heart rhythm. He was rapidly defibrillated. Noting no change on his EKG, he was rapidly defibrillated again, and CPR was continued. AMR medics placed an intraosseous needle in his leg to administer medications and prepared to place FF Ferry on a LUCUS II mechanical CPR device.

Noting a change to his EKG, a pulse check was performed which showed that a carotid pulse was now present. FF Ferry was also beginning to try and breathe again. His eyes began to open. AMR medics quickly administered an anti-arrhythmic medication to try and prevent another episode of ventricular fibrillation.

Ferry’s EKG was transmitted to the hospital, an IV line was started, an anti-arrhythmic medication drip was begun, and oxygen was applied.

The ambulance arrived at Elliot Hospital at 11:02. FF Ferry had a strong pulse, was breathing on his own and trying to respond. 20 minutes had passed since he was brought out of the fire building.
The quick recognition that Craig was in distress combined with the immediate initiation of high-quality CPR along with the rapid defibrillation and medication administration were all critical factors that helped save his life. But the most important parts to this success story were the individual actions of his fellow firefighters and the AMR personnel on the scene that day.

AMR Regional Director Christopher Stawasz said: Every person did the job they were trained to do - and that mattered.

AMR has a special wall called "The Tomorrow Wall" which recognizes the team who were able to successfully bring a victim back from cardiac arrest. 90% of people who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive.

Those involved in the efforts to save Firefighter Ferry were:

AMR Paramedic Supervisor Mary Woo
AMR Paramedic Jeff Brule
AMR Paramedic Anthony Maccarone
AMR Advanced EMT Melyssa Stokes
MFD District Chief Jim Michael
MFD Lt. Rich McLaughlin, Engine 9
MFD FF Kenny Wong, Engine 9
MFD Lt. Scott Brassard, Engine 3
MFD FF Dan Connell, Engine 3
MFD Lt. Brad Hood, Truck 7
MFD FF Adam Bouthiette, Truck 7
MFD FF T.J. Burkush, Rescue 1
MFD FF Sean Flanagan Rescue 1

MFD Firefighter Ferry after medical treatment, and extensive follow up was recently cleared to return to his job as a Firefighter at Engine 9. On Ferry’s first day back on the job he was part of a crew who performed a water rescue in the Merrimack River.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news