Staci Bossack was a little nervous about her first day as an FDNY paramedic on March 7, wondering if she could easily translate her book knowledge to real-life patients. But any worry she had quickly faded as she saved the life of a woman in the Bronx who went into spontaneous cardiac arrest.
To jump in and get my feet wet that way was quite an experience, she said. It felt good.
Bossack was just starting her first tour as a paramedic with her partner, Paramedic Brehene Vice, when they were called to the lobby of a school on Andrews Avenue at 4:12 p.m.
The victim s family said the 84-year-old woman was walking down stairs when she said she was feeling weak, fell to her knees and went into cardiac arrest.
The paramedics arrived in minutes and began doing CPR ventilations, intubated her, started an intravenous line and began administering medications that maintain heart rate and blood pressure.
Everything worked, she said. It was definitely a team effort.
The woman was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital.
I was nervous, and as soon as we went available, we got hit with a job, said Paramedic Bossack. But I knew exactly what to do. To bring this woman back was incredible.
She added, As I left home, my daughter said, Save a life mom. I guess she knew something.