CUMBERLAND — An Allegany County paramedic and two other Maryland clinicians are being praised with saving a man’s life on Jan. 15 at Capital One Arena in Washington.
Sgt. Jason Wolf, a firefighter/paramedic with the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services EMS Division, was attending the Washington Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks hockey game as part of Responder Appreciation Night with his family and co-workers.
A delay with the Metro transportation system put him in the right place at the right time.
“We were a little delayed getting to the arena due to a hold up on the Metro, so our (friends) were already in their seats on the fourth floor,” Wolf said.
After passing through security and the front corridor, Wolf’s oldest daughter pointed out to his wife, also a paramedic and registered nurse, that a man had collapsed in the middle of the walkway.
“As I approached, the patient’s wife, who is a nurse, began doing chest compressions,” Wolf said.
The man was gray, breathing abnormally and didn’t have a pulse, Wolf said.
Wolf said that he told his wife to find an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), a portable device that delivers an electric shock to the heart during sudden cardiac arrest.
“I took over (chest) compressions from the victim’s wife,” Wolf said.
Wolf was joined by Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services Firefighter/EMT Ryan Pittinger and Metro Washington Airport Authority Fire Department and Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS firefighter/paramedic Chris Amos.
Wolf said another firefighter and critical care registered nurse was also assisting but he didn’t get their names.
“Without early high-quality CPR and early defibrillation, patients in cardiac arrest do not fare well for making (a) full recovery. The actions of everyone involved saved this man’s life,” Vito Maggiolo, public information officer for DC Fire and EMS, said.
DC Fire and EMS is a strong proponent of citizen accessible AEDs, according to Maggiolo.
“This incident is a stark reminder that cardiac arrest can happen anywhere. Because of immediate CPR and early defibrillation, this individual was given a fighting chance,” Allegany County Emergency Services Local 1715 Union President Steven Corioni said. “We are proud of Sgt. Wolf and all the bystanders involved, for acting without hesitation, and we hope this highlights how critical bystander CPR and access to AEDs truly are.”
Wolf said that the first responders with the victim delivered one shock with an AED before DC Fire and EMS arrived.
“This event was an excellent example of teamwork from providers who have never met one another, and it very strongly emphasizes the importance of public AEDs and public education in CPR and first aid,” Wolf said.
Allegany County Department of Emergency Services Chief Michael Salvadge said that he was not surprised by Wolf’s actions.
“Wolf brings that to every shift he works … on critical calls he is working with the crew, using downtime to teach and educate other clinicians. Constant interagency training helps us integrate with systems across the state,” Salvadge said.
DC Fire and EMS records show the call was dispatched at 6:48 p.m. Fire and EMS units were at the patient’s side at 6:54 p.m., according to Maggiolo.
“I commend our EMS clinicians from Allegany, Washington and Frederick counties who were off-duty and attending the Capitals vs Sharks game on Jan 15, said Dr. Timothy Chizmar, Maryland EMS medical director. They quickly recognized a person who was in cardiac arrest, initiated CPR and applied a public-access AED. Their quick actions went above and beyond — and restored the patient’s pulse. This case underscores the importance of timely action and CPR/AED training. Immediate CPR and defibrillation may double or triple a patient’s chances of survival.”
Information on the patient’s current condition was not available.