A team from Columbus Fire and EMS is credited with saving the life of a stroke victim. Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Declan McCahan, TyReese McNeese, John Freiberg, Zachary Kelley, and Dylon Watson First Friday Heroes® for the month of August.
After returning home from running errands, a woman wasn’t feeling well and told her friend to dial 911. While waiting for EMS, the woman lost the ability to speak and developed a facial droop. Because the stretcher could not fit through the home, the fire and EMS crew safely maneuvered her out of the house using a rolling office chair. As they loaded her onto the stretcher, they recognized her condition was changing— she had developed a gazed look in her eyes and right sided weakness in her body, raising concern for a large vessel occlusion (a severe type of stroke). Recognizing the severity of the situation, the crew immediately notified the Piedmont Columbus Midtown Emergency Trauma Center that they were en route and provided a thorough report.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the patient was quickly transported to the Interventional Radiology suite, where the blood clot was successfully removed from her brain less than two hours from her last known well time. Just 24 hours later, she was released from the hospital without any effects from the stroke. This incredible outcome began with the actions of the Columbus Fire and EMS crew.
“Their rapid recognition of a severe stroke, ability to adapt to a challenging environment without delaying transport and timely pre-hospital notification set this patient up for success,” said Piedmont Columbus stroke program manager Meagan Rhames. “Their clinical expertise, quick thinking and unwavering commitment to providing exceptional patient care directly contributed to a life-changing outcome.”…