Crime & Safety
Woman In Cardiac Arrest Revived By Derry Fire And EMS
Derry resident Rosemary Hargreaves was in cardiac arrest when firefighters arrived, the responders saved her life and got to meet her
DERRY, NH - Derry Fire and EMS were able to save the life of a Derry woman because of quick actions from her husband and first responders.
DFD Battalion Chief Shawn M. Haggart reports that on December 13, 2020, at 08:45 a.m. the Derry Fire Emergency Communications Division received a single E911 call reporting that a female had collapsed on Berry Rd.
Derry Engine 1, Medic 1, and Car 1 along with Derry Police Department were alerted and responded immediately. While en-route, dispatchers provided information to responders indicating that the victim’s breathing had become ineffective. Upon the arrival of Engine 1, the patient was found in cardiac arrest. Fire and Police personnel initiated immediate Basic and Advanced Life Support care.
Find out what's happening in Londonderryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Crews worked diligently to perform high-quality CPR and administered multiple Advanced Life Support measures through a dynamic patient presentation. The victim had achieved the return of spontaneous circulation and was stabilized for transport to Parkland Medical Center.
Battalion Chief Haggart said crew members who responded to this life-threatening event were able to visit the patient at Parkland Medical Center recently, where she has made an excellent recovery with plans to be discharged soon.
Find out what's happening in Londonderryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Of note is that the pandemic is still ongoing - crews were performing these BLS/ALS interventions in Tyvek suits and respirators.
Battalion Chief Haggart said "Derry is proud to be designated as a HEARTSafe Community. HEARTSafe Communities is a program designed to promote survival from sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It is a general concept focused upon strengthening the “chain of survival” as described by the American Heart Association; it recognizes and stimulates efforts by individual communities to improve their system for preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) from becoming irreversible death. In this case, early recognition, activation of the emergency response system, early high-quality CPR, Rapid defibrillation and advanced life support, and post-arrest care lead to a very optimal outcome."
Haggart also mentioned with the pandemic still ongoing - crews were performing these BLS/ALS interventions in Tyvek suits and respirators which added to the challenging situation.
