Evans Center and Rural/Metro
Team Up on Cardiac Save

Mid-Town - December 31, 2000 --- The Evans Center Fire Company responded to a “trouble breathing” call at a Roat Drive address in the Town of Evans on December 31, 2000 around 10:30pm. Some firefighters were at Evans Center’s Erie Road Station and hearing the call over the police radio, Assistant Chief Bruce Green and their ambulance responded immediately.

John Kreiger (driver), Mike Kauzala (EMT-I) and Kevin Dalton (EMT-I) manned Evans Center’s ambulance.  Upon arrival Dalton and Kauzala entered the residence and found a man having severe difficulty breathing.  They immediately transferred the patient to the ambulance where he subsequently went into cardiac arrest, meaning that his heart had stopped beating and he was not breathing.

Asst. Chief Green requested back up from a Rural/Metro ambulance. Under a new contract with the Town of Evans, a paramedic unit was to go in service at midnight that very evening.  However, Angola Fire Control Dispatch advised Green that Rural/Metro was unavailable at the time.

Green requested that Chief Dennis Allen to expedite his response to the scene.  Allen arrived and assisted Firefighters Green, Kauzala, and Dalton who were attempting to establish an endotracheal (ET) Tube – a device used to open and maintain a person’s airway.  The patient was in asytole – a cardiac rhythm commonly known as “flat line.” CPR was administered and an intravenous (IV) line was established. 

Luckily, the Rural/Metro crew heard the call while on their way to the Evans Water Department building to put their ambulance in service.  Not yet officially in service, they took the initiative to respond and met Evans Center’s ambulance at the corner of Bennett and Old Lakeshore Roads.  Paramedics Russell Dimitroff (EMT-P/Crew Chief) and Doug Milks (EMT-P) boarded Evans Center’s ambulance and administered atropine and epinephrine – two drugs used to stimulate heart activity.  The patient regained a pulse and an electrical rhythm on the cardiac monitor.

The patient was transported to Lakeshore Hospital where emergency room staff continued treatment.  When the crew left the hospital the patient was critical but stable, with a pulse and blood pressure.

This was the last call of the year 2000 in the Town of Evans and the first call under the new Rural/Metro and volunteer joint response program in the town.  Thanks to the teamwork and dedication demonstrated by these individuals, the pre-hospital care system worked as intended, enabling the patient to live another day.

Dalton, Kauzala and Milks are active members of the Evans Center Fire Company as well as employees of Rural/Metro Corporation serving the Town of Evans community. Town of Evans Police Officer Brad DiMartino and Dispatcher Patrick Garrigan assisted Evans Center at the scene.

BACKGROUND: The Evans Center Fire Company is a full-service emergency services provider serving a 50 square mile area in the Town of Evans on the shores of Lake Erie.

Evans Center believes that “Firefighting is not for everyone – but volunteering can be” –offering flexible limited duty memberships in the areas of Fire/Rescue, Fire Police, Emergency Medical Services, or Rescue only. An active ladies auxiliary supports the department’s efforts and a busy Firefighter Explorer Post offers young adults, age 14-20, the opportunity to learn exciting new skills and meet new friends in a positive environment.

If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact the Evans Center Fire Company by clicking: info@ecvfc.org or calling 716/549-1221.

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For photos or more information, contact Tiger Schmittendorf of OnScene Marketing Services at 716/583-5150 or via e-mail at tiger@onscenemarketing.com.

This press release is available at www.ecvfc.org and www.onscenemarketing.com.