My explanation

I have been slow this past week in posting, I want to give you a copy of what I posted on my work blog as an explanation. I realize you wont know all the players, but you will understand the story.



On Thursday Nov. 1, Ron was sitting at the dispatch position in Communications. It was known he had not been feeling well for the last few days, and in fact was up most of the night before with that he believed was heartburn. Because he had not been feeling well he almost did not come to work, but his wife Chris suggested he might feel better getting up and around, so Ron decided to go ahead and come to work.

Ron dispatched a call in Vilonia at 09:44, and sometime after that transmission, Ron laid his head down on his console. Jay came in to bring Ron some Halloween candy when he noticed Ron had his head down. No one thought much about it at first because he had not been feeling well, but when Jay could get no response, they knew then that something was really wrong. Jay felt for a pulse and found none. At that point Jay, Joe and David Turner got Ron out of his chair and laid him in the floor where Jay started immediate CPR. Joe then called out in the hallways for help. At this same time Ralph (just by chance!) walked into dispatch carrying a monitor. Jay asked if it worked, and Ralph answered yes, just needs batteries.

There was a meeting going on in Swanson’s office involving Stewart, Greg, Tammy, and Jon. At Joe’s calls for help, the group rushed to dispatch. Upon entering, we saw Jay doing CPR and knew that we needed equipment. Simultaneously, Greg ran to retrieve an ALS pack and returned to begin ventilations, while Stewart connected the monitor for a quick-look and subsequent shock. Louis and a host of others went to retrieving and setting up other necessary equipment. Then, as we all worked on Ron, Joe and Dana Burnett continued their duties at their dispatch positions and performed well with this all right there beside them!

Ron presented with V-Fib, and was shocked once, CPR was then continued, an IV was established etc., and within a short time, we saw occasional complexes on the monitor. These turned into a string of complexes with a pulse and respiratory effort. Ron’s efforts continued to increase as we traveled to BMC, where he was seen at the ER and diagnosed with an anterior MI. He was then sent to the cath lab where he received 3 stints. (From down time to cath. lab with vessels open @90 minutes or less)

He currently is in CCU at BCM in critical condition. This a.m. he did wake and follow some voice commands. His pressure is low but stable; his heart is a normal sinus currently. Long term looks good as long as he dose not develop any complications.

This is a brief overview of the events.

Please keep Ron and his family in your prayers during this time. I will be passing on updates as I get them.