Westlake paramedics treat patients like family

Brian and Jean Moran with Westlake firefighter/paramedics Eric Szytec, Matt Benigni and Adam O’Neill.

What began as a typical weekday afternoon in April for retired Westlake resident Brian Moran, quickly turned worrisome as he began to experience chest pains while working in the yard. Brian’s wife, Jean, could tell something was wrong and dialed 911, and Westlake first responders were swiftly dispatched to the Morans' residence.

When the Westlake Fire Department arrived, they correctly identified a cardiac event and immediately executed cardiac protocol. In addition to diagnosing Brian’s heart attack, first responders recognized Brian as the father of fellow firefighter Lt. Matt Moran. All of a sudden, a routine emergency response call took on a personal air.

First responders alerted the UH St. John Medical Center’s catheterization laboratory to expect Brian’s arrival and began communicating directly with the hospital about Brian’s vitals and condition.

“It’s reassuring to know that Westlake first responders are so well trained and they know what they’re doing to best help others,” Jean Moran said. “The equipment was available to communicate directly with the hospital so the medical staff was best prepared when we arrived was impressive.”

Standard industry door-to-balloon (DTB) time is 60 minutes. DTB is defined as the time between arrival to the hospital’s emergency department and when a catheter guide-wire crosses the lesion within the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Brian’s DTB time was 38 minutes.

“The response call and cardiac protocol for my dad was executed perfectly,” Lt. Moran said. “My family and I are grateful to my colleagues for excellent care and service.”

After receiving two stents, Brian returned home from the hospital two days later without sustaining any damage to his heart. “I thank the Westlake Fire Department staff for the great care. They’re kind, caring and professional,” Brian Moran said.

“Our Westlake firefighters are diligent in their emergency response training. Westlake recently sent a team to the EMS Today JEMS Conference & Exposition EMS Competition in National Harbor, Maryland,” Westlake Fire Chief Jim Hughes said. “The Westlake team competed against EMS teams from across the country and globe and placed tenth overall, distinguishing themselves among the elite paramedics in the country. This example and Mr. Moran’s case are the kind of care and service that all of the Westlake Fire Department members strive to provide to our citizens each and every day.”

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Volume 11, Issue 10, Posted 10:23 AM, 05.21.2019