La Honda FD saves a man’s life using advanced CPR gadget

A 60 year old man was saved in part by the use of a new state of the art AutoPulse CPR Board. On Sunday July 23, the Castro Valley resident was visiting the La Honda area when he began to feel ill. Seeking help he was brought to the Pioneer Market on Hwy 84 and 911 was immediately called.

Fortunately for the victim a large contingency of fire apparatus were just then breaking up from a training exercise and engines from La Honda and Pescadero were at his side within two minutes. Upon their arrival, firefighters found the man to be unresponsive and not breathing. Further assessment dedicated the immediate need for CPR.

This was done manually at first and within moments the compression portion of CPR was transferred to a new AutoPulse CPR board. This device is carried on all Coastside CDF/County Fire Engines as well as engines with the Kings Mountain and La Honda Volunteer Fire Departments was obtained last year through a Department of Home Land Security grant. It is a Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump. It provides improved blood flow to the heart and brain by squeezing the entire chest and is generally considered to be more effective that single spot manual CPR.

After two minutes of CPR a single shock from a defibrillator was delivered and his vital signs started to return a short time later. The patient received follow up drug therapy and was transported to a waiting Lifeflight helicopter for a quick ride to Stanford Hospital. “This call makes my entire career worth while, it’s clearly one of the most rewarding calls I have ever been associated with," said Cathy Whitney, an 18 year veteran and Captain/EMT with the La Honda Vol. Fire Dept.

On Saturday July 29 the patient was continuing his recovery at Stanford Hospital. He was reportedly teaching the nurses there the cha-cha. “The quick delivery of care, professional training, and modern equipment all conspired to help save this mans life” stated CDF/County Fire Paramedic Dave Wade of the Pescadero Station. He went on to say “I’m proud to have been a part of the team of over 9 first responders who helped give this man’s a second chance at life”.