On August 29, 2018 at 15:16 an ambulance from Lexington Park VRS was dispatched for an unconscious person. Three minutes later at 15:19 the assignment was upgraded to a person now not breathing, Bay District VFD was added to the assignment. Immediately Brush 9 and Deputy Fire Chief 9 (Kyle Adams) responded.

Ambulance 387 (Lexington Park VRS) arrived on scene at 15:22 and initiated CPR, Brush 9 & DFC 9 arrived and assisted the ambulance crew with CPR.

St. Mary’s County ALS Medic 1 arrived at 15:29 and began providing advanced life treatment to the patient.

At approximately 15:35 the patient had a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and a helicopter was requested for air transport to Southern Maryland Hospital Center.

Due to the quick response of all the responders the patient was loaded on the helicopter with a heartbeat and was breathing on her own.

Why Should you learn CPR?

If those present at the scene are able to provide CPR to the victim promptly, the latter's chances of survival are significantly increased. This is because time is the essence when treating a cardiac arrest victim. Once the heart stops beating and blood flow stops, a person will lose consciousness within 15 seconds.

A person in cardiac arrest who receives CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, from a bystander before emergency medical services (EMS) arrive is twice as likely to be alive a month later as someone who did not get bystander CPR, according to a study published June 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine.