NEW YORK – A typical tranquil morning in Central Park, the Central Park Medical Unit had all its ambulances, its Polaris Ranger and its Bicycle Emergency Response Team on hand for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk on April 27, 2013.
At approximately 8:00 a.m a call was dispatched for an unconscious person near the East Drive at 66th Street. A CPMU ambulance arrived on the scene within 3 minutes, where volunteer EMTs Garry Resnick, Rafael Castellanos and Danny Poon found a gentleman in cardiac arrest.
The crew promptly continued CPR started by bystanders, managed the patients’ airway and provided several shocks to the patient via an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Minutes later, the crew was assisted by additional resources from CPMU, FDNY, and NYPD. EMS paramedics worked alongside the CPMU EMTs to continue CPR, defibrillation, and advanced cardiac life support while en route to a local hospital.
Nearly 6 weeks later, the patient was discharged from the hospital and is well on his way to recovery, a second chance at life!
On Tuesday, June 25th, at the prestigious law offices of Weil Gotshal, Chairman David Lefkowitz of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association presented Garry, Rafael and Danny with the New York City Heart Saver Award.
For almost 40 years, the Central Park Medical Unit has been at the front lines of emergency medical services providing compassionate and free care to Central Park visitors and the larger New York City community in times of need. The Central Park Medical Unit boasts one of the fastest ambulance response times in New York State. CPMU is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. All donations go directly to support our free life-saving mission.
