A Hyattsville family is having an extra special holiday season after a CPR save in November.
• Read the Story, Dispatcher Connection on WUSA9.com
Just after 6 a.m. on November 20th, the HVFD’s engine and ambulance, along with Medic 844, responded to a call in the first due, arriving to find a male in his mid-20’s unresponsive.
The victim’s mother started CPR after being calmed and reassured by a dispatcher at Public Safety Communications — who also helped her count while doing compressions.
The man was initially brought back prior to arriving at the hospital — where his heart stopped three more times. A day later, the mother was told there was little hope of survivial and her son (who has a twin sister) was likely brain dead. She posted a message on Facebook, asking for prayers, support and for friends to come by and visit him at the hospital. Over 60 people did.
That night, he began opening his eyes and moving his hands. A day later, on Thanksgiving, he was breathing on his own and off of the ventilator. Just over a week later, he was home.
“Today marks the one month anniversary that my son, David, was found not breathing and unresponsive and to me it seems like yesterday,” his mother Linda told us. “Contacting 911, and having a wonderful dispatcher to help talk us through the CPR efforts until medics arrived.”
Linda is a substitute teacher at an area school, where she first took a CPR course.
“My son is truly grateful for everyone’s efforts and not to give up on him and feels that is why he is alive still today,” Linda said. “Our family and friends would like to thank everyone involved in helping in saving David. We know CPR saves are exceptionally rare but thanks to everyone’s efforts we were able to prove CPR can save lives!”
So on this Christmas, a very speedy continued recovery to David — and a job well done to his mother and family, the dispatcher at PSC, HVFD and PGFD EMS crews on ensuring this family has a happy holiday season.
