Trumbull EMS Recognized for Saving Cardiac Patient Who Was Actually Dead

The Trumbull EMS chief told Hearst Connecticut Media, the patient "was actually dead".

Trumbull paramedic, James Bieger, remembered it was the first call of the day when a 36-year-old male went into cardiac arrest at home. When Bieger arrived on the scene, a family member was administering CPR, but the patient was still unresponsive.

While paramedic Bieger was administering emergency medication, three additional EMTs, who were also on the call, jumped in to help along with three Trumbull police officers. Immediately, Officer Paul Coutinho took over CPR from the family member. EMS Chief Leigh Goodman said, "We call that pit crew CPR." Because there were so many responders, it meant they could all take turns so there was no break. The chief went on to explain the gravity of the situation.

He was actually dead. At age 36, that could have been the end right there. The guy wasn't breathing, no pulse, he was totally unresponsive. 

The patient was given two electric shocks from the defibrillator and only then did his heart begin beating on its own. After he was stabilized at the hospital, tests revealed that the patient's prognosis looked very good. He was able to go home after only a week-long hospital stay.

In the photo at the top, Bridgeport Hospital recently honored Trumbull emergency responders for saving the life of the 36-year-old cardiac patient. There's a lesson to be learned here said Goodman,

Every time I've ever seen a result like this, every single time, there was either a bystander that immediately started CPR or a bystander who used an automated emergency defibrillator.