Dix Hills FD Rescue Squad Crew Receives Lifesaving Award

Story & Photo By Steve Silverman

On December 11, 2014, at 7:08 p.m., the Dix Hills Fire Department was activated for a rescue call reporting an unconscious male at a residence.  District Paramedic on-duty Ralph Oswald arrived on scene soon thereafter and notified incoming units that he had a 60-year-old unconscious male that was in Cardiac Arrest. The patient was at the dinner table waiting to eat when he passed out and his wife called 911. Paramedic Oswald with the assistance of the ambulance crew from 2-8-25 consisting of Jessica Mattes, Tyler Mielko, and John Marshall moved the male patient to the floor and began CPR, while Paramedic Oswald assembled the Lucas CPR device.

Shortly thereafter the crew of ambulance 2-8-5 consisting of EMT Matthew Stio, EMT Richard Sorrentino, Captain/Paramedic Scott DiPino, Michael Englander, Assistant Chief Tom Napolitano and EMT Megan Pereira arrived to assist. Captain/Paramedic DiPino intubated the patient, Paramedic Oswald stared an IV, and with the assistance of the crew administered numerous cardiac medications and shocked the patient once.

After a few minutes the patient did regain a good pulse and blood pressure. The patient then received the new return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) protocol which is basically a very cold saline/hypothermia treatment. The patient’s condition improved while being transported to Huntington Hospital, and he was discharged after several days and is doing well.

The Dix Hills Fire Department Rescue Squad crew was recently recognized for their lifesaving actions and received a Pre-Hospital Save Award from the Suffolk Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.

Pictured from left, Chief Bill Stio, Matt Stio, Assistant Chief Tom Napolitano, Ex-Chief Richard Sorrentino, Megan Pereira, Jessica Mattes, John Marshall and Scott DiPino. Absent from photo were Mike Englander, Travis Mielko and Ralph Oswald.