CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVOR VISITS CAFMA CREW THAT HELPED SAVE HIM

THE CREW OF CENTRAL ARIZONA FIRE AND MEDICAL AUTHORITY ENGINE #58 WERE PAID A SPECIAL VISIT FROM A MAN WHOM THEY HELP SURVIVE HIS CARDIAC ARREST EVENT BACK IN FEBRUARY.

ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 25TH, 50-YEAR-OLD PRESCOTT VALLEY RESIDENT JASON DICKERSON TOLD HIS WIFE RACHEL THAT HE WAS FEELING PAIN IN HIS CHEST AND THAT SHE SHOULD CALL 9-1-1. HE THEN COLLAPSED, STOPPED BREATHING AND HAD NO PULSE.

GUIDED BY THE DISPATCHER THAT ANSWERED THE CALL, RACHEL ADMINISTERED CPR UNTIL HELP ARRIVED IN THE FORM OF THE PRESCOTT VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, 

CAFMA BATTALION 3 AND ENGINE 58, AND LIFE LINE AMBULANCE.

THE CREWS WORKED DILIGENTLY THROUGH THEIR CARDIAC ARREST PROTOCOLS AND JUST WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMED LOST, DICKERSON’S HEART BEGAN BEATING AGAIN. HE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO YAVAPAI REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WHERE TREATMENT CONTINUED.

RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL ONLY A FEW WEEKS LATER, CREWS WERE INVITED TO VISIT WITH THE FAMILY IN THEIR HOME. THE CREW OF ENGINE 58 THEN RETURNED THE FAVOR, INVITING DICKERSON AND HIS FAMILY TO VISIT THEIR HOME, STATION 58, AND TAKE A RIDE IN THE FIRE ENGINE.

ON MAY 9, JUST OVER TWO MONTHS AFTER A MIRACLE COMEBACK, DICKERSON AND HIS FAMILY VISITED STATION 58 AND THE CREW THAT HELPED SAVE HIS LIFE.

BATTALION CHIEF BRAD DAVIS SAID “IT’S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT WE GET TO MEET UP WITH A PATIENT AFTER A CALL, SO IT HAS BEEN GREAT WITNESSING JASON’S RECOVERY AND GETTING TO KNOW HIS FAMILY.”

STUDIES SUGGEST THAT NO MORE THAN 10% OF PEOPLE SURVIVE CARDIAC ARREST WHEN IT OCCURS OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL, BUT IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT EARLY ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE CPR SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.