PEPPERELL — Chief David Scott is pleased to report that two Pepperell Police Officers and a dispatcher from the Patriot Regional Communications Center (PRECC) teamed up to help save a resident from an apparent heart attack.
On Friday, Oct. 29, PRECC received a 911 call regarding a man in his 50s who had passed out and then regained consciousness. Pepperell Police and Fire/EMS were dispatched to the man’s home, and while they were responding the man lost consciousness again.
PRECC Dispatcher Angela Garhart used her Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training and guided a family member through performing CPR on the individual until Pepperell Police Officers Michael Kenney and Justin Zink arrived at the home.
Officer Zink took over CPR while Officer Kenney prepared an automated external defibrillator (AED) and attached it to the man. The AED advised the officers to administer a shock to the patient, which they did. The patient briefly regained consciousness, but then became unconscious again, so a second shock from the AED was administered. The patient then became conscious, alert and oriented.
Pepperell Fire/EMS arrived and took over care of the patient, who was taken by ambulance to Lowell General Hospital and then later released.
“Dispatcher Garhart used her training to begin a process that led to Officers Kenney and Zink saving someone’s life,” said Chief Scott. “This was a great example of teamwork among our officers and I’m proud of their efforts. This recognition is well-deserved.”
Officer Zink and Officer Kenney received a letter of recognition for their efforts in a small ceremony on Friday at the Pepperell Police Station.