Dix Hills Fire Department Revives Man in Cardiac Arrest

Just two days after delivering a baby boy in car, members of the Dix Hills Fire Department again put their emergency medical skills to work by reviving a Dix Hills man who suffered Cardiac Arrest on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at about 2:30 p.m. The Department was dispatched to the man’s home after being called by a family member, and found the 88-year-old man lying on the driveway in Cardiac Arrest.

First Responder and Paramedic Units arrived on the scene within three minutes. While other units were responding, Captain Brett Tepe and EMT Glen Kaleita immediately determined that the man was in Cardiac Arrest and started CPR and applied the AED (Automated External Defibrillator).  They delivered a shock, but the victim still did not have a pulse.  Within minutes three Dix Hills Rescue Squad ambulances arrived as well as Second Assistant Chief EMT-CC Alan Berkowitz.

Chief Berkowitz and Paramedic Alex Calas packaged the patient and proceeded to Huntington Hospital with the man still in Cardiac Arrest.  Calas established an infusion for medication access, while Berkowitz provided Advanced Life Support medication.  Along with the assistance of EMT Jordan Drelich and EMT Antonio Villanueva, the patient received five additional defibrillations and several medications while CPR was continued with Firefighter David Baack driving the ambulance.

Ultimately, the patient was restored to a pulse, breathing and return of spontaneous circulation.  Paramedic Calas provided post arrest medications and the patient was transported to the care of the Emergency Department at Huntington Hospital.

Also assisting were ambulance crew members EMT’s Thomas Nostramo, Zee Ryder, Matthew Stio, Captain Karl Krage, and drivers Douglas Wagner and Matthew Antretter.

The Dix Hills Rescue Squad utilizes five Advanced Life Support ambulances and a First Responder Vehicle to serve the Dix Hills community. The Rescue Squad has over 80 volunteer members that respond out of three stations to both fire and medical emergencies, including motor vehicle accidents.

Photo attached of Dix Hills FD Rescue Squad ambulance. (Story/Photo by Steve Silverman)