Ridge Fire Dept. EMS Lauded For Saving Patient's Life

RIDGE, NY — Three crew members of Ridge Fire Department Emergency Medical Services were recently honored by Peconic Bay Medical Center for saving a patient with a severe laceration on their forearm from bleeding to death inside their home last spring.

Paramedics Matthew Mauro and Joanna Guerrero, were able to control the patient's bleeding by reassessing a pressure dressing, and applying a tourniquet, hospital officials said in a news release. The operation took only about 16-minutes at the patient's home, and then the ambulance driver, Arthur Vansicklen, drove to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, where the patient was treated in the emergency department, according to hospital officials.

The patient had been showing signs of significant blood loss, decreased blood pressure, and increased heart rate, officials said, adding that the patient was stabilized and was discharged the next day, due to "the responsible and responsive work these three EMS workers performed in the field."

Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death related to trauma, and it was "of the utmost importance to recognize and thank Mauro, Vansicklen, and Guerrero for stopping the bleed and saving this life," officials said.

Peconic Bay's executive director Dr. Amy Loebs said hospital officials are honored to recognize the three "talented EMS workers for the amazing work they did on that day.”

“It was due to their quick action and knowledge in the field that ultimately saved this patient's life, and for that, PBMC and the whole community thanks each of you,” she added.