LifeForce and Bradley County EMS Win State Star of Life Award
Chattanooga, TN- The EMS Star of Life Awards Dinner & Ceremony was recently held to honor the dedication of those who provide day-to-day lifesaving services on the medical front line in Tennessee. The ceremony presented actual patient scenarios and reunited the EMS caregivers with the individuals they have treated from the eight EMS regions across the state. Erlanger Health System's air medical service LIFE FORCE and Bradley County EMS received Star of Life awards.
In 2008, ambulance services in Tennessee responded to over one million 911 calls. The first annual EMS Star of Life Awards Ceremony was put into place to honor the accomplishments of EMS personnel from all over the state, who provide exemplary life saving care to adult and pediatric patients. Region 3 award winners included Jammie A. Dill, Glenn Susskind, and Rick Rentfrow. From the Bradley County EMS, Joe Thomason, Don Cross, Kevin Womac, Shawn Fairbanks, Barry Snyder, Kaye Jones, and Casey Croft were honored.
LIFE FORCE and Bradley County EMS were honored for their life-saving response and treatment of Meredith Parker, whose story was shared at the awards ceremony.
Jonathan and Meredith Parker, of Cleveland, Tennessee, were just settling into the routine of parenthood after Meredith gave birth to their first child, Olivia on June 24, 2008. On the night of July 2, 2008, an unexpected and life-altering event occurred that can brought this family together with and a team of heroic EMS workers.
As Olivia began to cry in the middle of the night, Jonathan walked over to comfort her. As Meredith followed, she suddenly felt her hear racing. Within seconds, Meredith collapsed. Seeing that she was having trouble breathing, Jonathan began CPR.
Thanks to his recent training with the police academy, Jonathan was able to keep his wife's blood and oxygen pumping through her body. He continued to perform chest compressions until paramedics arrived from Bradley County EMS. Upon arrival, Joe Thomason, Don Cross, Kevin Womac, Shaw Fairbanks and Barry Snyder found Meredith in cardiac arrest.
The EMS team immediately went to work using advance cardiac life support protocols, including early defibrillation. Meredith eventually required defibrillation an additional seven times.
Meredith was then transported to SkyRidge Medical Center in Cleveland, Tennessee. After being evaluated in the emergency department, she was flown by Life Force pilot Rick Renfrow, along with Jammie Dill and Glen Suskind, to Erlanger.
Meredith had suffered a massive heart attack caused by a tear in a main artery. "It is a rare event when a tear in the artery occurs during pregnancy," explains Dr. James Hoback. "In Meredith's case, a blood clot formed on top of the tear, which blocked the flow of blood."
In the Erlanger cardiac cath lab, an arteriogram was performed, repairing the tear and inserting a stent to open up the blocked artery. While Meredith recovered, the cardiac staff also used a cooling blanket to induce hypothermia and reduce her body temperature to 92 degrees. The use of this type of blanket induces hypothermia in cardiac patients and slows brain activity, which reduces the risk of brain damage.
"It's a huge miracle," said Meredith. "I want to encourage others that nothing is impossible. We know without a shadow of doubt that the Lord helped us. I am blessed and thankful to the Lord to be here and see my baby grow. The paramedics, doctors and nurses were all strategically placed, and all did a great job. We were floored by the quality of care. The staff went above and beyond what they had to do."
The EMS Star of Life is sponsored by Erlanger Health System, T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital, HCA/TriStar, Methodist Healthcare/ Methodist University Hospital, Air Evac Lifeteam, AAA Clubs of Tennessee, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Tennessee EMS Education Association, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Adams and Reese LLP, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, TeamHealth Midsouth, and Tennessee College of Emergency Physicians.
