At approximately 1240pm, a Marine Unit consisting of 3 firefighters and 1 fire officer returned from daily training and fueling of the boat and was completing tasks around the dock. The fire officer was inside the boathouse completing administrative duties. At 1245pm a firefighter who was performing daily checks on a zodiac boat was found facedown in the zodiac. The two firefighters present raced to the aid of the firefighter and found him pulseless and apneic in the boat. One firefighter ran to the boathouse to inform the officer, while the other unsuccessfully attempted to remove the downed member from the boat to the dock. A civilian walking past the area called 911. The officer and both firefighters removed the downed firefighter from the zodiac and began CPR. Based on the civilian’s report, the firefighter was down for about one minute before anyone saw him. Once the firefighter was on the dock, the other firefighters began CPR, and the officer returned to the boathouse to retrieve EMS equipment and notify dispatch of the situation.
Dispatch sent the closest structural fire company to the scene and the 3rd-party EMS service. EMS diverted an ALS unit from another call to the scene. The firefighter was found to be in VFib arrest, and three shocks were administered. The Lucas device and other ACLS interventions were also performed on scene. ROSC was achieved, and the firefighter was packaged and transported to the trauma center just over one mile away. The firefighter underwent a procedure in the cath lab and was transferred to the Cardiac ICU around 4 hours after the start of CPR. Currently, the firefighter remains in the ICU and is alert and responsive to visitors.
LESSONS LEARNED:
While this incident didn’t happen at a fire or other dramatic event, it is an example of how quick response and teamwork is vital to our duties. This firefighter’s coworkers immediately understood the situation and began lifesaving care. The cooperation among three public safety agencies (fire, EMS, and police, who closed the intersections between the boathouse and the hospital) was vital to the outcome of this event. The proximity to definitive care was also a major factor in the positive outcome.
