Automatic External Defibrillator used at Carrier Dome

Press Release

SYRACUSE — March 18, 2002 — On the evening of Monday, March 18th, Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) Emergency Medical Technicians Elisse Collins, Martha Baker, and Carolyn Conley reported to the Carrier Dome for an ambulance standby for the first round of the NIT Basketball Tournament. Shortly before the game started, Carrier Dome employees summoned them to a reported man unconscious in the stands. They responded with their equipment, including a Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator. Once at the patient's side, they determined the patient to be pulse-less and breathing agonally. They applied the AED, and following normal protocols, administered two shocks. The AED then advised no further shocks, so the EMTs continued care by ventilating the patient with a bag-valve mask connected to high-flow oxygen. Carrier Dome Medical Staff were on the scene shortly thereafter and began Advanced Life Support care. Rural/Metro Medical Services of Syracuse then transported the patient to Crouse Hospital. He is currently in good condition at CIM and is recovering nicely. SUA has received recognition from the patient, his family, and from the Emergency Department Physician.

"These three EMT's are true heroes, and extraordinary examples of the volunteer spirit." Said SU Ambulance EMS Manager Tim Perkins. "This is also another example of how quick access to defibrillation can have a real impact on patient outcome."

About Syracuse University Ambulance
SUA is a division of Student Health Services at Syracuse University. The staff consists of approximately 60 volunteer student members, including several student supervisors, a full time EMS Manager and a full time dispatcher. The organization has existed since 1973 and has been providing pre-hospital emergency care to the Syracuse University community as well as the surrounding areas. SUA is a basic life support provider, and Advanced Life Support is provided by Rural/Metro Medical Services of Central New York.

About the EMTs credited with save
Elisse Collins is a sophomore pre-medicine student from Chicago, Illinois. She has been certified as an EMT-D for just two months.

Martha Baker is a Junior biology pre-medicine student from Brookfield, Connecticut. She has also been certified as an EMT-D for only two months.

Carolyn Conley is a Junior psychology major with a pre-medicine track from Berwyn, Pennsylvania. She has been working as an Emergency Medical Technician for several years.

For more information:
Timothy Perkins, EMS Manager, 315-443-3168, tjperkin@syr.edu