POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Yesterday was a very emotional day in the Saint Francis Atrium. For the first time since the cardiac arrest, Ralph Jones was able to meet the emergency care providers who saved his life.
Surrounded by his family Ralph Jones, 65, was introduced one by one to the Mobile Life Support Services providers and the City of Poughkeepsie Firemen who were involved with his care. As he shook hands with Jason Whitaker, the paramedic in charge, Jones asked, “So you’re going to have to walk me through what happened because I don’t remember any of it.”
In mid February, Jones was visiting with his nephew when he suddenly collapsed in his relatives home. The family quickly called 911, and City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department and Mobile Life Support Services were notified.
Within minutes the Poughkeepsie Fire Department was on scene and began CPR on a pulseless Ralph Jones. Only moments later a Mobile Life Support Services paramedic ambulance arrived on scene. Mobile Life initiated advanced emergency care while City Fire continued with CPR. Together, Mobile Life Support Services and City of Poughkeepsie Fire were able to regain pulses before moving Jones to the ambulance.
Ralph Jones was transported to Saint Francis Hospital Emergency Room where he received on going care. Once stabilized, he was then transferred to Vassar Brothers Medical Center for a cardiac catheterization and recuperation. Since that faithful February night, Jones has made a full recovery and is back home. Mr. Jones is one of the 8% of people who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting and survive.
It takes teamwork among providers to care for a patient in cardiac arrest, and that February day was no exception. With a quick response time of four minutes by MLSS and the intricate teamwork between both Poughkeepsie Fire and Mobile Life, Jones was arriving at Saint Frances hospital within 23 minutes of the initial call to 911.
Ralph Jones said goodbye to the emergency service crews and continued on way to Virginia where he will be spending quality time with his family on vacation. Before leaving he told the emergency workers, “Thank you so much for my second chance. I really wouldn’t be here without you guys.”