In a heartwarming rescue, a team of dedicated first responders saved a local woman’s life by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation after she suffered sudden cardiac arrest. The quick-thinking crew’s swift actions highlight the vital role of CPR training and the lifesaving impact of first responders.
On a sunny day in October, Montgomery resident Tarri Salerno went into cardiac arrest while grocery shopping at her local Kroger. Salerno remembers she walked into Kroger, thinking to herself, “I feel great today,” and headed toward the bakery section. While trying to decide if she wanted French bread or ciabatta, her heart stopped beating.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs.
A bystander dialed 911 and Montgomery County Emergency Service District No. 2 got the alert. Engine 51 and Medic 43 were the first crews to arrive on scene. Immediately, firefighters and paramedics jumped into action and performed CPR until the LUCAS device—a mechanical chest compression device—was implemented. CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest by manually maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs until further medical attention can be obtained.
“One minute I was looking at bread and the next I was looking up at my daughter in the ICU,” Salerno said. She was diagnosed with ventricular fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat that affects the heart’s ventricles.
A defibrillator was used four times. One of her lungs collapsed and several ribs were broken. “If it weren’t for the first responders getting there when they did, it could have been much worse,” Salerno said.
For many first responders, the hardest part of their job isn’t the chaos of the emergency itself but the uncertainty that follows. After stabilizing a patient and handing them off to the hospital staff, they often leave the scene with no idea if the person they fought to save will survive. However, on rare occasions when survivors return to thank them, it makes all the difference.
Salerno walked through the doors of Station 51 on November 12 to say thank you. Part of her healing process, she said, was seeing the faces of the ones who saved her life. “I wanted to physically thank them. It was so powerful to see the faces of the people that helped me so that I can be with my family and friends today.”
In addition to the gratitude Salerno feels, she also feels called to spread awareness in the community about the importance of CPR training and maybe even teach classes one day. February is American Heart Month. Devoting a little time every day can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, making time to move more, preparing healthier meals and not skimping on sleep can all benefit your heart.
For more information on heart health, visit nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month.
For more information on CPR, its benefits and to sign up for a class, visit cpr.heart.org.
