From WUSA9.com’s Elizabeth Jia:
Melvyn Newman shakes the hands of the first responders at Fire Station 23.
He survived his first heart attack during the snow storm that trapped the area’s commuters in a massive gridlock, Jan. 26, 2011. Through the thunder snow, four first responders treated and transported Newman in a fire engine.
“They were very efficient, capable, and cool, fortunately, knew what they were doing,” says Newman who later choked up and says words cannot fully express his gratitude to his rescuers.
During snow fall, Newman felt tightness in his chest after shoveling his driveway around 7 p.m. His wife, Linda Singer, saw him lying down inside the house. She realized he was suffering from a heart attack and dialed 9-1-1.
“He was just totally white, no coloring at all, and he was shaking like a leaf,” says Linda Singer. She says after getting the busy tone a few times, she got through to a dispatcher. Four first responders arrived in a fire engine.
Lead paramedic Dwayne Dutrow says he was determined to get Newman to Suburban Hospital before his heart stopped.
The snow storm slowed down the rescue. The crew treated and transported Newman to the hospital in 18 minutes, according to Dutrow.
The fire engine navigated its way around stranded cars and snow- covered roads.
“I tried to figure the best way to get there, stay away from hilly terrain and go as flat as possible,” says Lawrence Morton, the driver.
“It was unprecedented and the traffic conditions were terrible at best,” says Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard Bowers.
The physicians at Suburban hospital said he had ten or fifteen more minutes before he might not have survived the heart attack, according to Newman.
Fire Chief Bowers says Newman’s rescue is a shining example of the importance of the work done by four-person first responder teams.
Also on STATter911 …
- Helmet-cam: House fire in Linda, California. – December 11, 2011
- Raw video: Firefighters rescue man from burning home in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. – December 1, 2011
- Lt. Richard Nappi, FDNY Engine 237, dies at three-alarm Brooklyn warehouse fire. Mayor says ‘Lt. Nappi overheated, suffered exhaustion and collapsed.’ – April 16, 2012
- TV news report says DC ambulance crew drove past house to nearby fire station to get crew there to take call. Report of 15 minute delay. – August 17, 2012
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Good job by the crew. I remember back in a surprise blizzard in 1979 having to transport an OB patient in a fire truck to the hospital. This is definitely a good example of being able to overcome and adapt.
In ’79 I rode a farmer’s tractor with a portable radio leading the way through Oxon Hill. The farmers had been in town for a protest in DC when the snow hit. They offered help and they were deployed throughout PG County.
Statter
I can express my sincere congratulations to MCFRS Station 23-B Shift. These Fine people are highly Trained skilled Professionals who know their job, and do/did it well. Captain Dutrow, and Shift, “JOB WELL DONE”. I would also like to speak about the Driver Lawrence Morton did what can only be described as Miraculous skill and keeping SAFETY as Top Priority. Driving a piece of Fire Apparatus through heavy traffic stuck/sliding vehicles realizing the most critical issue was to Transport the Heart Attack Victim to the Hospital. Captain Dutrow managing the ALS Intervention efforts to keep this man alive and safe. Lawrence Morton had an equally critical imperative priotity to drive safely and get the Apparatus fro being involved in an unforseen Traffic incident. The Driving skills, the Paramedic skills took realization of “Continuous In Service Training” and learned Experience. Station 23 -B Shift has once again proved themselves as True Professsionals. ie; Several years back this Shift survived a May Day May Day Dreaded Call when a floor collasped on top of them on a structure fire. Station 23-B Shift has proven the “National Fallen Firefighter Safety Measures, EVERYONE GOES HOME” in handling both of these challenging Incidents.
For those who want to read me about the mayday involving Captain Dutrow and crew click here and scroll down -
http://statter911.com/?feb_network_search_context=blog&s=dwayne+dutrow
Statter
Great job by Duane and the fellas from 23-B.
Great job guys!