Boyzoid's Blog & Stuff

The EMS stories have been a bit scarce recently.  This is mostly because I have been to busy, or lazy, to blog about them.  If you have read any of my tales, you know that most revolve around demonstrating the stupidity of the human race.  This story always reminds me that maybe there is hope for us a race.  Today also happens to be the 15th anniversary of this call.  Let’s file this one under ‘feel-good’

 

We got a call sometime at night for a ‘boat accident’ on the Barnegat Bay.  We were sent to a marina to meet a State Police boat.  Another paramedic unit was also dispatched.  By the time we arrived on scene, the other paramedic unit had just left in a boat to head out to the water.

As my partner and I gathered out equipment on the dock, another boat approached.  This boat contained two victims of the accident.  Both teenagers, both in cardiac arrest.  In order to effectively run a ‘code’, you need ate least 3 people (2 to perform CPR, the other to administer advanced life saving measures like medications or defibrillation).  Counting the 2 State Troopers from the boat, and a local police officer, we had 5 people.  We needed someone else, and the spare equipment.

While my partner and the others performed CPR, I returned to our truck to get our spare equipment (med box, airway kit and defibrillator).  A young man approached and asked if we needed help.  Typically, I would not accept help form a bystander due to liability issues, however, this was a unique circumstance.  I asked him if he knew CPR, he responded, “No.”

“Come with me, you are going to learn.” I replied.

On the way back to the dock, he told me his name was ‘Woody”.  When we got to the patients, I gave him a quick, 5 second lesson on CPR (specifically, chest compressions).  My partner and I, along with the other 4 ‘rescuers’ worked on the patients until the other medic unit on the water could return.

When the other medic unit arrived back at the dock, they took over care of one of the patients and my partner and I worked on the other.  Unfortunately, our efforts were unsuccessful and both patients were pronounced dead at the scene.

In the commotion, I lost track of Woody.  I was not sure if he was a local, or if he was on vacation.  I wanted to get his name so he could get some recognition for what he did.  I estimate that Woody might not have been old enough to drive. He was also one of the bravest young people I have ever encountered.  Several times he asked if he could stop, and admitted he was scared, yet he continued to do what he could. Bravery is not the absence of fear, rather, facing it.

Thinking about this call reminds me that there are people out there like Woody, and give me hope that maybe we, as a race, have hope.