PULSE Magazine | September 2018 Issue

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EXCELLENT

Kyrstin LaRose / Esme Harvey

On August 17th Kyrstin took a call from the grandfather of a 15-year-old female that was having a seizure. The patient was reported as unconscious and “gasping” for air. At the completion of triage, the patients breathing was not returning to normal and Kyrstin evaluated it. It was determined that the patient was not breathing adequately and Kyrstin moved to CPR instructions. Early in the instructions, the call disconnected. Kyrstin made multiple attempts to get the grandfather back on the line and was unsuccessful. During this time, the grandfather called back to 911 and Esme took the call when transferred. Esme quickly realized she had Krystin’s caller back and continue providing CPR instructions where Kyrstin had stopped. Esme continued to coach both of the grandparents through the process until first responders arrived and took over resuscitation efforts. The grandparents were so distraught they apparently didn’t realize that the nameless, faceless individual that helped them was actually two people working cohesively toward a single goal from miles away. Please join us and the family in thanking Kyrstin and Esme for their seamless management of this call and their contribution to its positive outcome. Strong Work Ladies!

Below is the letter from the family.

Dear Austin EMS,

As I write this, it is exactly two weeks ago that we called 911. When I called, I was hoping that Catherine would suddenly come back to normal. She had been so fine in the minutes before we called. We are so fortunate to have reached the right person. We found the address of our daughter's home pretty quickly. We knew the event was medical. We knew she wasn't breathing, but every once in a while she would gasp. We thought it was breathing, but afterwards we found out it was not productive. You asked if we had an AED, and we said no.

You asked to clear her air way and if we knew CPR. I said no and in clear, calm, yet forceful words, you told me what to do. We started CPR. I will say we started it together. You asked us to say “now” if she did breathe. We were kind of a mess at this point. She really wasn't breathing, but you had also sent help. All the help was amazing and you probably know the results. Catherine went home today, just two weeks later, with no physical or neurological problems. We learned some things as we waited for Catherine to recover. What is done in the first 4 to 6 minutes has a great deal to do with determining the outcome. In Catherine's case the CPR saved her life and her future. We owe that to you and that is significant. We don't underestimate all the events that followed, the CPR, the shocking of her heart, all the medication, and all the care that got her to the hospital includ- ing her first helicopter ride, the great care at the hospital by dedicated people, and many, many prayers from all over the country, but you got it started on the right track. What you did was amazing and even though I don't know a name or a face, we will be eternally grateful for what you did.

Ron and Lorraine N.

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