East Meadow Volunteers Save Patient's Life

On Feb. 16 at 1:15 p.m., a resident of Levittown came to East Meadow's Fire Station 3 on North Newbridge Road in a desperate need for help.

After a few knocks on the door, the person had fallen to the ground, an apparent victim of a heart attack.

Seconds later, Ex-Captain John Schreiner Sr. of Ladder Co. 2 found the person and immediately called East Meadow Dispatch for help. With EMFD's pagers now announcing the call for Rescues 4, 5, and advanced life support fly car 6199, the EMS system was now in motion and soon to be tested.

Within three minutes of the call, unit 6199 manned by paramedic Robert Salvesen Sr., who lives just blocks away, arrived on the scene. He was followed by Chief Carl L. Pugliese. Returning home from his job as a Paramedic, East Meadow volunteer Jon Haber was in the area, heard the call, and responded.

Quickly the patient was assessed and found to be in full cardiac arrest. As more firefighters arrived on the scene, efforts to save a life intensified. In the minutes that followed, the patient was defibrillated several times without success as quality CPR continued in between shocks.

Within five minutes of the alarm, both ambulances 615 and 6144 were arriving on the scene. By then, Salvesen and Haber were establishing a successful advanced life support airway and continuing their advanced life saving techniques.

With initial medications administered at scene, unit 615 now transported the patient to the Nassau University Medical Center as several of East Meadow's best worked feverishly in coordination with doctors on two-way radio at medical control, who monitored, consulted and approved further advanced life support heart medications.

Just prior to 615's arrival at the hospital, the efforts of all rescuers would be rewarded as the patient's heartbeat restarted.

At the hospital, emergency room staff were quickly assembled and prepared for the short arrival time of Rescue 5. The hopes of saving a life was placed in the competent hands of hospital professionals. Doctors continued the fight, making further life saving decisions to improve the patient's condition, prevent further deterioration and developed a plan to correct the cause of the sudden illness.

Once the patient was stabilized enough for transport, he was moved to North Shore Manhasset Hospital for immediate cardiac procedures, where the patient's improvement is gradual with future treatment expected.

In all, 21 East Meadow volunteers responded to the emergency.

As word filtered throughout the East Meadow Fire Department in the days after, handshakes and congratulations were abound for another job well done.

The EMS System of the East Meadow Fire Department has been long known for having one of the best all volunteer EMS systems on Long Island. In recent years, the members of EMFD EMS have accounted for an unusual amount of life saving awards.

Our hats are off to Robert Salvesen Sr, Jon Haber, Rescues 4 and 5 and all other East Meadow volunteers who responded to this alarm, many from companies not assigned to the alarm but who were in the area knowing they could help.

Find out how you can become an East Meadow volunteer EMT or Firefighter. Visit the Fire Department's website or call the recruitment hotline at 542-4565.

This article was written and submitted by John J. O'Brien.