Patient Calls Acadian Ambulance Medics “Superheroes”
(PRWEB) January 24, 2014 -- Superheroes are defined as fictional characters possessing extraordinary or superhuman powers – but don’t tell that to 59-year-old cardiac arrest survivor Keith Myers.
At a reunion held Jan. 21 in Jennings, La., with representatives of Acadian Ambulance, Jennings Fire Department, American Legions Hospital and the Heart Hospital of Lafayette, Myers said, “The men and women from Acadian Ambulance, Jennings Fire Department, American Legions Hospital and the Heart Hospital of Lafayette are my superheroes.”
Acknowledging the Superman shirt he was wearing, Myers added, “I wear this shirt in honor of you all. I stand here today because of each one of you.”
On Dec. 28, a family birthday party took a turn for the worse when Myers went into cardiac arrest.
“We were celebrating my granddaughter’s third birthday when I collapsed,” he said. With their entire family present and Myers now unresponsive, his wife, Renee’, immediately began chest compressions.
“I went into instant panic mode,” she said. “I’m a nurse and we are trained for emergencies, but nothing can prepare you when it’s a member of your family. I know I thumped on his chest numerous times and called 911, but that is about all I can remember.”
Jennings Fire Department was first on the scene followed by Acadian Ambulance medics. EMT-Paramedic Thomas Fontaine and EMT-Basic Alexis Foster were on their way back from a transport in Ruston, La., when they received the call.
“Alexis and I are stationed in Sulphur, but were covering the Jefferson Davis Parish region when we were notified about Mr. Myers,” Fontaine said. “We were at the right place at the right time.”
With CPR already in progress, Myers was shocked three times with the AED used by Fontaine and Foster before regaining consciousness. He was transported to American Legion Hospital in Jennings where an angiogram test indicated he had multi-vessel disease. Due to his condition, Acadian Ambulance transferred him to the Heart Hospital of Lafayette where he was prepped for bypass surgery.
“Mr. Myers had a successful procedure and was back home by Jan. 2,” Acute Cardiac Transfer Department Nurse Julian Briggs said. “This reunion is very rewarding; it shows just how efficient the chain of survival is. Without Mrs. Myers, the fire department, Acadian Ambulance and hospital staff, Mr. Myers would not have survived.”
Fontaine said, “I’ve been with Acadian for close to 10 years. We rarely, if ever, have contact with a patient after our job is done. To visit with Mr. Myers today is really something special.”
Summing up her gratitude, Renee’ Myers said, “I get to hold his hand for a few more years. I cannot thank everyone enough.”
Since 1971, Acadian has provided the highest level of emergency medical care and transportation possible. In the past decade, the company has expanded to include a diverse suite of services in health, safety, and transportation. Acadian's six divisions are Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadian Monitoring Services, Air Med, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, National EMS Academy and Safety Management Systems.
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Julie Mahfouz, PR/Marketing Manager, Acadian Companies, http://acadian.com, +1 (337) 291-1551, [email protected]
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