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SURVIVORS AND RESCUERS REUNITE FOR EMS WEEK
May 21st, 2012Three residents who beat the odds and survived sudden cardiac arrest in Contra Costa County will reunite with their rescuers Tuesday, May 22nd, to mark Emergency Medical Services Week at the County Board of Supervisors meeting in Martinez. The residents of Walnut Creek, Concord and Hercules each survived because people who saw them collapse knew to call 911 and begin CPR right away. People have a greater chance to survive a cardiac emergency if community members initiate the rescue effort for EMS personnel, according to the Emergency Medical Services Division of Contra Costa Health Services. In 2011, the survival rate for cardiac arrest jumped from 11.7% to 38% when a witness called 911 and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) or began CPR.
The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors will recognize three cardiac arrest survivors along with their rescuers, as well as EMS, fire and ambulance personnel. Firefighter-paramedics are the primary first responders to all emergency medical calls in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Each of our 29 fire crews is staffed with at least one firefighter-paramedic to ensure the delivery of rapid advanced life support services to our community.
WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 22 at 651 Pine Street in Martinez
