Eagles football fan Gregory Fulgione was reunited with the first responders who helped to save his life after he collapsed last fall at 校友 Stadium at a recent special event in the Heights Room. The first responders—的成员 太阳城网赌平台EMS, 太阳城网赌平台警察, TeamOps, and Armstrong Ambulance—also were recognized at the event by St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, where Fulgione was successfully treated.
Fulgione, a father of an alumna and a football season ticket holder since 1982, went into cardiac arrest at the start of the BC-Virginia Tech game on October 31. He was initially aided by a family friend and 的成员 TeamOps, the outside organization that provides security and guest relations for BC 体育运动 event.
The first EMTs on the scene were Nicholas Favazza ’18, Rachel 法国 ’17 and Andrew Bourque ’18, 的成员 公元前EMS. Favazza used an AED (automated external defibrillator) on Fulgione.
“It was the first time I used an AED on a real person,法瓦扎说, who has been with 公元前EMS since the spring of 2015. Bourque, who was on his first-ever shift for 公元前EMS, assisted Armstrong Ambulance personnel with the bag valve by setting up the oxygen tank.
St. Elizabeth’s Chief of 紧急 Services Dr. Mark Pearlmutter, who treated Fulgione at the hospital, spoke at the March 23 recognition event. He praised all the first responders saying that “every link in the chain of survival played a role. Each link is essential and the skills and coordination of each of those links and transition of care demonstrates the importance of the pre-hospital team that’s assembled here today.
“It begins with increased community awareness and education. The BC community is a stellar example of this. The first responders to Mr. Fulgione played an integral part in his being able to join us today.
“It’s a wonderful success story. It’s a culmination of efforts that started well before he got to the hospital. This expertise in the field gives those of us on the receiving end the ability to further conduct intervention to enhance a patient’s ability to survive. Mr. Fulgione is a testament of those efforts.”
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center presented a silver bowl to each member of BC Police, 公元前EMS, TeamOps and Armstrong Ambulance involved with the save of Fulgione.
“We do a lot of training to make sure, 当电话打进来时, 我们在这里,” said EMT Richard Raymond, CEO of Armstrong Ambulance. “Before each game, we work with 公元前EMS and BC Police to go over the ‘what ifs.’”
After treatment in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, Fulgione was able to return home in December in time to celebrate his 86th 生日.
Fulgione attended the reunion event with his wife of more than 60 years, 埃莉诺, his three children and son-in-law, and the family friend who was the first person to start CPR on Fulgione.
“[This event] has presented me with a golden opportunity to meet you and thank you,” Fulgione said to the first responders in attendance.
According to 公元前EMS President Kevin Zirko ‘16, this was the first cardiac arrest save for 公元前EMS since it was established in 1997. A student-run organization, 公元前EMS provides emergency response coverage at more than 400 events per academic year. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association honored Zirko, 法国, Bourque and Favazza for their life-saving work at the 2016 National Collegiate 紧急 Medical Services Foundation conference in Philadelphia.
Fulgione的女儿, 琳恩·加西亚，86年, said her father is looking forward to next football season and is “doing better than ever.”
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The following 的成员 the 太阳城网赌平台 community were recognized for their life-saving efforts:
太阳城网赌平台警察 Department: Lieutenant Jeffrey Postell; Lieutenant Thomas King; Lieutenant Laurene Spiess; 工作人员 Sergeant Kevin Croke; Officer Keith Holland; Officer David LoConte; Officer Anthony Cadogan; Officer Timothy O'Meara; Officer Kimberley Sirr; Detective Brian DeMayo; Detective Robert Connor; Dispatcher Adam Morrell and Dispatcher Michael Jones.
应急准备 & 管理: John Tommaney and Eileen O'Donnell
设施:丹尼尔·墨菲
太阳城网赌平台EMS: Andrew Bourque; Nicholas Favazza; Rachel 法国; Kevin Zirko and John Fucigna.
--Kathleen Sullivan | News & 公共事务