Courtesy photos.
AMR paramedic Johnny Villegas and EMT partner Brooke Keeling, along with Gold Coast Ambulance paramedic intern Nathanael McCourt, receive CPR Save certificates for their efforts tied to March emergency call
VENTURA COUNTY — Following a nationally recognized day of giving thanks, American Medical Response Ventura County (AMR) and its affiliate Gold Coast Ambulance (Gold Coast) leadership hosted a private presentation on Nov. 29, to award CPR Save certificates to one of its crews for the life-saving support they provided this past March.
When a female patient in her 50s experienced cardiac arrest on March 30, 2024, AMR paramedic Johnny Villegas and EMT partner Brooke Keeling, along with Gold Coast paramedic intern, Nathanael McCourt — training with AMR — quickly responded on-scene to administer life-saving hands-only CPR aid.
Arriving on-scene five minutes from dispatch and administering CPR for approximately 17 minutes (in addition to the CPR the family was performing as instructed by the Ventura County 911 dispatcher until arrival) before the resumption of a sustained heart rhythm, the crew was able to stabilize the patient for transport to the hospital. As a result of this early action, the patient was discharged four days later as a Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 1 hospital discharge. CPC is a commonly used tool in cardiac arrest studies and is based on a five-point scale used to assess the neurological status of cardiac arrest patients, with 1 being the best and 5 being brain death.
“The community member was able to spend this Thanksgiving with her family thanks to this crew,” said Mike Sanders, regional director for American Medical Response of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and Gold Coast Ambulance. “I’m thankful not only for these great caregivers, but for all AMR and Gold Coast medics and EMTs who do this day in and day out.”
According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest as the result of helping to maintain blood flow to the brain and vital organs during cardiac arrest, significantly increasing the chances of survival by preventing brain damage and delaying tissue damage until further medical intervention can be provided. Since 2014, AMR and Gold Coast have trained more than 51,000 community members in hands-only CPR. Compared to national averages, Ventura County residents are 35% more likely to receive CPR from a bystander and 45% more likely to survive cardiac arrest neurologically intact.
About American Medical Response (AMR)
American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of emergency medical services, provides mobile healthcare in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to care for more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.
AMR is part of Global Medical Response. With?nearly?36,000?team members, Global Medical Response delivers?compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency medical services and patient relocation services in the United States?and around the world. GMR was formed by combining the industry leaders in air, ground, mobile healthcare services,?and community, industrial/specialty?and wildland fire services. For?additional?information, visit?us on LinkedIn or at?www.GlobalMedicalResponse.com.