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Spc Jason A. McLeod
Larry on Nov 25: 20:10
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CFDMedics.com :: Forums :: EMS :: In The News
 
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Paramedics save choking Iraq veteran
Moderators: CFDAdmin
Author Post
CFDAdmin
Thu Dec 07 2006, 11:12PM


Registered Member #1
Joined: Sun Sep 24 2006, 11:07PM
Posts: 462
 By Tonya Maxwell
Tribune staff reporter

December 7, 2006, 9:16 PM CST

When firefighters found Samantha Reeves just as she lost consciousness Thursday morning, she pointed to her neck and futilely gulped at air like an asthma patient struggling for breath.

Moments earlier, she had popped a green LifeSaver candy in her month, jumped out of her truck and run toward a house on the city's Northwest Side to collect clothing donations for a veterans group. She slipped on an icy patch and fell backward, the hard candy lodging in her throat.

Her airway cut off, Reeves, 24, had about four minutes to live.

Chicago firefighters on Truck 53 and Engine 125 are being credited with saving the life of the Iraq War veteran.

"If they hadn't done what they did, she would have been dead," said Patrick Fitzmaurice, an Emergency Medical Services operations inspector who goes to scenes to make sure victims are being properly aided.

"They did everything perfectly. If it were on video, it would be a training film. When people see a firetruck, they need to get out of the way, because two minutes would have made the difference here."

Fitzmaurice, who has 30 years of experience as a paramedic, said the rescue is even more remarkable because firefighters rarely have a chance to help a choking victim. The window between life and death is so short, medics typically can't arrive at the scene in time.

Often, other civilians help. But for Reeves, working alone, the situation was grim.

On Thursday afternoon, Reeves visited the firehouse at 2323 N. Natchez Ave. as her rescuers recounted what happened.

A 911 call shortly after 11 a.m. reported a person on the ground on Fletcher Street, near Mobile Avenue.

Firefighters Chuck Lui and Scott Groves, also both medics, began pounding on Reeves' back, said Lt. Brian McLaughlin, who was also at the scene.

Nothing happened so they used abdominal thrusts to force the candy up, McLaughlin said.

Reeves drew breaths and regained consciousness. She was shivering violently and, as the firefighters helped her up, part of the candy again clogged her throat, McLaughlin said. She again began choking.

By then, Engine 125 had arrived and paramedic William LaBonte brought out a laryngoscope. The L-shaped device is used to help medics better see down the throat or to allow them to place a tube down past the lips.

When he slid the laryngoscope in, then back, the candy popped out, he said.

LaBonte could not say how long Reeves had been unconscious.

"It seemed like three hours. It was probably a minute-and-a-half to two minutes," he said.

Again Reeves awoke. She remembered her first words.

"I told them thank you and gave them all hugs and everything. If they hadn't come, I would have died," she said.

She was taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center for a checkup and X-rays and was back at the firehouse for another round of thanks by 2 p.m. There, firefighters fed her breaded steak sandwiches and fries and she later gave them more hugs.

"I just want to say thank you to the firefighters," said Reeves, of Flossmoor. "It's a great Christmas to be alive."

Reeves had spent seven months in Iraq's Camp Dogwood from 2004 to 2005, she said. There, she maintained weapons and was a clerk and continues in the Army Reserve.

"It's kind of ironic I wasn't hurt there," she said, "but here, I would be gone without these firefighters. I couldn't have done it myself."
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Firemanfred55
Aug 25: 11:11
Infowars.com
My prayers for your fallin brothers family.

analytic
Aug 09: 05:31
One of ours died last night in the line of duty. Keep him and his family in your prayers.

CFDAdmin
Aug 01: 09:34
Daniela15 look under our links for schools

CFDAdmin
Aug 01: 09:32
Post in Forum to have a running topic to help you. But here is a start from our links. -Link-

daniela15
Jul 31: 01:03
I'm currently a sophomore at DePaul but i came to realize that I'm not getting into the right field i have been wanting to get into becoming a paramedic I just need a little more info on how what I need to do and what schools are in Chicago. I really want to pursue a career in this field any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

CFDAdmin
Jul 30: 12:12
All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. Remember this.

CFDAdmin
Jul 24: 11:12
Please watch fox news today. And make up your own mind. Vote in Nov.

CFDAdmin
Jul 21: 15:57
I have posted a number of new links. It's up to you to make up you own mind. I for one watch fox news and listen to WLS radio. I am a member of the NRA and INRA.

CFDAdmin
Jul 21: 14:06
The number of forum posts I have made come from E-mails sent to me. Conversaion on them would be nice. Or you could just sit here and hope.

CFDAdmin
Jul 21: 12:36
I have changed the Forum "Jokes fact or Fiction to Make up your Own Mind It's your America. Because it seems its no longer a joke. It's our America.

CFDAdmin
Jul 21: 11:26
Jiggs we have no idea. We will post it. It's up to Mr Daley

still115
Jul 20: 12:13
Anyone have any idea what number the 05 fire list is currently on?

jiggs
Jul 15: 09:57
when is a new medic list starting

CFDAdmin
Jul 09: 15:09
Nothing you can do to stand out. Its a lotto system.

pblount74
Jul 07: 17:14
When/If another medic list is made in the near future, what do I need to do to qualify and make myself stand out above other candidates?

CFDAdmin
Jul 04: 13:07
GOD Bless American And please forgive them for they do not know what they do.

CFDAdmin
Jul 04: 12:52
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!One American Flag flying on my block. Yes its mine. Months of flags from around the world flying on cars and on the 4th of July its hard to find a US Flag. Its just SAD What is happening to this country, City and State?

CFDAdmin
Jul 02: 08:42
chicago1, Updated here today.

CFDAdmin
Jul 02: 08:25
medic/ffburbs.Its really not up to the
Commissioner. Its up to Mr. Daley

chicago1
Jul 01: 13:01
The union just posted on their website an updated list for PIC's. That was a quick response to my question
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