When Every Second Counted: A Community Comes Together to Save a Life…
On September 13, Wareham EMS was dispatched for a patient experiencing difficulty breathing. Moments later, the call became a cardiac arrest. The patient was unresponsive, not breathing, and CPR was already underway.
Our first responders arrived in less than 10 minutes and found the patient in ventricular fibrillation—a dangerous heart rhythm that prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood. With continued CPR and multiple defibrillations, our team was able to achieve ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation).
Our medics also recognized signs of a heart attack affecting the posterior wall of his heart. Within an hour of the initial 911 call, he arrived at Charlton Memorial Hospital for specialized cardiac care.
Then, six days later, something happened that our crew will never forget.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellenwood walked into our station to meet the medics who had cared for him that day. And there they were—together. Mrs. Ellenwood was more than a witness to this emergency. She was an essential part of her husband’s survival.
She recognized that something was seriously wrong and immediately began CPR before first responders arrived. By taking action when every second mattered, she helped keep blood flowing until professional help could take over.
Her actions are a powerful reminder: CPR can save a life.
Early CPR and early defibrillation are critical when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. You don’t need to be a healthcare professional to make a difference. You simply need to recognize the emergency, call 911, and be willing to act.
Please consider learning CPR. Someday, you could be the person who helps save a stranger, a friend, a neighbor—or someone you love.
Today, we celebrate the Ellenwoods, our EMS crews, the hospital team, and everyone who played a role in this incredible outcome.
❤️ Learn CPR. You never know whose life you may one day help save.
