EMT Heroes On LI Save Patient In 'Lightning Fast Time'

NORTH FORK, NY — A crew of EMTs was honored recently for their lightning-fast response in the face of an emergency — an effort that saved a man's life.

Peconic Bay Medical Center recognized EMS members from the Greenport Fire Department for their work to save a man having a heart attack.

Health care heroes including EMT Helen Reiss, paramedic Scott Falley, and driver Dan Creedon, Driver stabilized the patient at home on August 6 and then transported him to PBMC’s cardiac catheterization lab, where a clogged vessel was opened in under 80 minutes, PBMC said.

The Greenport man, who declined an interview, had been experiencing chest pain for over an hour when he called 911, officials said.

The ambulance crew arrived at his home and performed an EKG, which indicated that he was experiencing a heart attack, officials said. The crew notified PBMC’s emergency department in Riverhead, allowing the cardiac catheterization lab to prepare for their arrival, resulting in the life-saving response time, PBMC said.

After being treated by PBMC doctors, the patient was brought to the intensive care unit for critical monitoring. He remained chest pain-free and was discharged within three days of arrival, PBMC said.

“The current optimal first medical contact-to-treatment time is 90 minutes for this type of an occurrence, and the amazing EMS crew did it in under 80 — from Greenport,” said Dr. Amy E. Loeb, executive director of Peconic Bay Medical Center. “This truly shows the Greenport Fire Department crew’s ability to assess patients and get them to the help they need in lightning-fast time, which in the end, saves lives.”

The Greenport Fire Department team was honored with certificates of recognition at the Third Street Firehouse on November 9.