Nashua Grads with EMT Skills Save the Day on Boston Cruise

Two Nashua seniors out on a midnight harbor cruise celebrating their high school graduation happened to be in the right place at the right time – with the right skills – when a classmate had an unexpected medical emergency.

Paul Bourque and Brendan Perault had just received their diplomas on June 17, along with the rest of Nashua High School South Class of 2013, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. The after party was a Boston Harbor cruise, which was scheduled from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Everything was going great, as you would expect a harbor cruise with several hundred of your classmates to go.

"I was sitting at a table when I saw some of the employees running toward the stairwell, which was blocked off. They said a student was having a seizure, so I told them I'd just finished an EMT class and they let me in," said Bourque, who took two years of Career Tech Education, or CTE, during high school.

The simultaneous call to action for Brendan Perault, also a CTE grad, came while he was hovering near the dance floor. 

"I heard the commotion and saw a bunch of teachers and students crowding around, so I walked over and saw what was going on, and told them I had just been through my EMT training. Nobody else on board had any medical knowledge," Perault said.

Perault and Bourque met in eighth grade and solidified their friendship when they both joined the Hudson Explorers in ninth grade. Through the Explorers, they've spent the past four years developing emergency response skills, something they both agree has become second nature to them. 

They couldn't have been better prepared to handle the emergency situation as it unfolded.

"We assessed her condition and vitals – it was tough being on the ship. We didn't have any equipment, but we also knew that in the case of seizures, there wasn't much we could do except make sure she was safe," Bourque said.

He said that the girl told them she'd had a previous seizure. Although upset and slightly embarrassed by the situation, she was in good hands.

Initially, Bourque and Perault were told that they were only 10 minutes from shore.

"Turned out to be more like 90 minutes, and in the time it took to get to the shore, we could see her condition was deteriorating," Bourque said.

The girl lapsed into a second seizure, at which time Perault told the crew to call 911 and have an ambulance meet them at the dock.

"A crew from Boston UMass was waiting at the shore and took over," Perault said. 

Both Perault and Bourque said they had extensive training about treating patients with seizures during their CTE classes at South. 

Their quick action did not go unnoticed by Nashua High School South Assistant Principal Dennis Hamilton, who happened to be on board the cruise ship and witness the incident.

Last week Hamilton issued a letter of commendation:

"On behalf of faculty and staff of Nashua High School South, I am writing to thank both of you for your actions on the morning of 6/17 during our all night, senior class Boston Harbor cruise. It is one thing to see on paper that we have a career technical education program which supports the training of Emergency Medical Technicians. However, it is tremendous to witness two young men assume that professional role on the very night of graduation," he wrote.

"It is my understanding you were both exemplary as students. I can attest to the fact that you are both exemplary as professionals. On a personal note, you provided great support to me, as the administrator, in dealing with a student and parent who were resistant to our request to call an ambulance. You set the criteria for the medical emergency and let me know when the situation became critical. Furthermore, you sacrificed your senior cruise to assume the care of your first patient."

In fact, Bourque said it wasn't technically his first patient.

"Last summer I witnessed a mom and her kids crash into a pole, and I was able to assess their condition until the ambulance arrived," Bourque said.

Hudson Fire Capt. Dave Morin, who has known both Perault and Bourque since they became Explorers, said he was not surprised to hear word of their quick thinking and competence during the cruise emergency.

"Having worked with them both for the past four years, I have a good overview of what they're capable of, and that came forward when their services were needed," Morin said. 

"They're both interested in making firefighting service a career. With the training they already have going forward, they're way ahead of the curve," Morin said.

Perault, son of Nashua Fire Lt. Matt Perault, says he's always known this was his calling. 

"I had my 3rd birthday at a Manchester fire house," Perault said.

Bourque said he remembers watching firefighters in action putting out a house fire in his neighborhood when he was a kid.

"It was so cool to watch them work," said Bourque, who plans to attend Keene State College to pursue a degree in public safety.

Bourque is heading to Lakes Region Community College for his associate's degree in fire science. Both would love to one day work for Nashua Fire Department.

As for their heroism on the high seas, both Bourque and Perault said they were just happy to be able to help.

"I think we're just glad that to know after all that hard work in CTE for the past two years, that it was worth it," Bourque said.