Rescue Squad, Police Save a Life with CPR

An 89-year-old township woman is alive today thanks to the efforts of the East Brunswick Rescue Squad.

On Sunday, a township woman reported to 911 to complain of chest pains. Soon after, she stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest, according to the Rescue Squad.

East Brunswick Police Officers John Bird, Thomas Appell and David Methner were first to arrive and immediately started CPR. East Brunswick Rescue Squad members Mythili Rao, Katherine Quiza and Jake Cotton arrived minutes later and teamed up with police to continue CPR. As it turns out, the first responding police officers had already attached the AED and had shocked the patient once before the squad’s arrival.

“Getting CPR started immediately is critical to anyone’s survival who is in cardiac arrest,” said John Hosie, the Rescue Squad’s assistant captain. “Working with professionals like the East Brunswick Police Department is an incredible benefit for the squad and certainly for the patient in distress. Our township residents need to understand that our town’s police officers are highly trained in CPR and in using an AED. They are very effective in what they do and they play a critical role in many kinds of medical emergencies that happen in our town.”

Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital also played a critical role the save where multiple shocks were given and intravenous drugs pushed until a pulse was obtained on the way to the hospital, said Hosie.

“CPR is a high stress, all hands type emergency where the squad will even send multiple teams to pitch in,” he said.

“CPR saves are rare. In 2011 the squad responded to 12 cardiac arrests and had one CPR save. The squad answered 1,938 calls last year.”

The East Brunswick Rescue Squad maintains a website at www.ebrs.org. Donations can be made directly at this site or 346 Cranbury Road East Brunswick, N.J. 08816, Attn: Donations.