Two Radcliffe-on-Trent residents who suffered cardiac arrests six days apart have said thank you to the paramedics who saved their lives.
During one week in July this year, off-duty Paramedic Suzie Matthews, from Wilford Station, was alerted to two cardiac arrests through the GoodSAM app when both patients collapsed.
The first GoodSAM alert Suzie received was just after she finished a night shift and was for Michael Glover. She arrived within minutes and found Michael’s wife carrying out CPR.
Suzie took over until Paramedic Martin Borrett, Technician Zoe Keal, Clinical Operations Manager Alan Good and Community First Responder Alison Curtis arrived on scene. They were able to use a defibrillator on Michael to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm and stabilise him enough to transport him to Queen’s Medical Centre.
Days later, Suzie was alerted to another cardiac arrest through GoodSAM as her neighbours’ son, John Hewitt had collapsed. Suzie immediately began CPR, until Paramedic Brett Fry arrived along with the support of Elite and Helimed crews. Again, they were able to use a defibrillator and transport him to hospital.
Thanks to Suzie’s quick actions, the GoodSAM alert and help from her colleagues, they were able to save the lives of Michael and John who have since made a full recovery.
On Friday, Michael and John were both reunited with Suzie and the crews at Wilford Station.
Michael said: “I can’t say thank you enough to the paramedics for exactly what they do.
“If it wasn’t for them and my wife administering CPR, I may have been past the point of no return.”
John said: “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the paramedics. The GoodSAM app effectively saved my life. It brings home how important it is to recognise when someone is in cardiac arrest and what to do when that happens.”
Suzie, who is now good friends with Michael and John added: “Both these cases highlight just how important it is to start CPR early and ask for help as soon as possible.
“The fact that Michael and John both walked out of hospital within a week and can now look at returning to a normal life is testament to both how vital CPR skills are and how GoodSAM is having an impact on saving lives across the region.”
GoodSAM is designed to alert those nearby who have cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and have signed up to the app when a 999 call is received for a patient in suspected cardiac arrest; with numerous lives already being saved since 2013.
We currently have 1,152 East Midlands Ambulance Service approved responders registered with GoodSAM, which consist of East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) staff and approved EMAS CFR responders.
In addition, we send GoodSAM alerts to people within the vicinity if registered with the following partner agencies; LIVES, Lowland Rescue, North West Ambulance Service, Leicestershire and Rutland 4x4, St John Ambulance, Derbyshire Constabulary, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue, and anyone else who is a registered qualified medical professional (doctors, nurses, paramedics).