The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Courtesy Photo:
Norma Patterson (fourth from right) of Roanoke recently had the opportunity to thank many of the people who helped save her life when she had a heart attack while traveling through Franklin County. |
Friday, July 23, 2010
By K.A. WAGONER - Staff Writer
On a sunny May afternoon, a family was driving home to Roanoke from a vacation in North Carolina when their mother passed out and stopped breathing.
Pulling over to the side of U.S. 220, the driver, Tara Williams, frantically called 911 for assistance, but she had no idea where she was. She told the dispatcher she was on Rt. 220 in Franklin County, somewhere close to Rocky Mount.
During the next 20 minutes, a whirlwind of activity and action by concerned motorists, emergency personnel and law enforcement officers would save Norma Anderson's life.
While Williams was on the phone with dispatcher Ron Burroughs, three deputies and a Rocky Mount Police Officer began searching along Rt. 220 for the van, which Williams described, said Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt.
Meanwhile, Hunt, who was in the dispatcher's office, contacted the Franklin County Rescue Squad.
At the same time, motorists called the sheriff's department to help pinpoint the van's location, Hunt said. One motorist stopped at the scene and began CPR on Anderson. Two volunteers from Fork Mountain Rescue Squad also stopped to help.
Moments later, Sgt. Dan Hale and Deputy Brian Garland arrived and used the automatic external defibrillator (AED) in Garland's police car to shock Anderson several times, attempting to correct the arrhythmia.
As rescue personnel arrived, they loaded her into the squad while continuing the shocks and beginning drug treatment, according to Capt. Patrick Meeks with public safety.
Police escorted the squad to Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, where Anderson finally regained a pulse as the squad entered the parking lot, Meeks said.
Anderson was then airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she recovered from her heart attack, according to Allison Buth, media relations specialist with Carilion.
Anderson had the opportunity to personally thank some of the people who worked to save her life when she met with the group of officers, emergency personnel and dispatcher recently at Roanoke Memorial.
Attending the event were deputies Bryan Johnson and Brian Garland; sergeants Tim Tatum and Dan Hale; Sheriff Ewell Hunt; officers Chris Shelton and Chris Froeschl with the Rocky Mount Police Department; Franklin County Rescue Squad members Teresa Camm, Tiffany Hudson and Ashley Hunt; Capt. Patrick Meeks with public safety; Tommy Allen with Carilion and Glade Hill Volunteer Rescue Squad; and dispatcher Ron Burroughs.
"We have an emergency system in place, and this situation (with Mrs. Anderson) shows that it works," Meeks said.
Franklin County covers a large geographical area, so it is impossible to have an emergency services station on every corner, Meeks said. The Franklin County Department of Public Safety started the AEDīž program several years ago to make certain the life-saving devices were readily available throughout the county.
"In emergency situations, the quicker the AED can be applied, the better chance the patient has of surviving," Meeks said.
The county has purchased and placed the AEDs in all local police cars, including the sheriff's department, Rocky Mount Police Department and Ferrum College Police Department.
"All our deputies are trained and certified to operate the AEDs," Hunt said.
The devices have also been placed in all schools, as well as the courthouse, county administration building, Virgil Goode building, Franklin County Library, Westlake Library, Franklin County Jail, Department of Social Services, animal shelter, landfill, recreation park office, armory, Chamber of Commerce, Free Clinic, STEP and The Franklin Center.
Defibrillators are also located in the Rocky Mount Municipal building, public works building, police department and water treatment plant, Meeks said.
The AEDs are portable, electronic devices that are used to diagnose arrhythmias and gently shock the heart to prevent cardiac arrest, said Division Chief Billy Ferguson with public safety.
"The defibrillators are designed to be easy to use, so people with minimal training can begin resuscitation prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel," Ferguson said.
Training courses in CPR and AED use are available through public safety. Call 483-3091 for more information. |
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