Survivors

A reunion of survivors and the rescuers and caregivers who saved them, held in conjunction with Emergency Medical Services Week.

The first annual Marin County Survivors Gala Celebration was held in Novato at the Stonetree Golf Club on May 19, 2011. The Survivors Committee reviewed multiple medical and trauma cases that illustrated lifesaving efforts from bystanders, pre-hospital providers, and hospital personnel. Five Marin County residents were selected, along with their rescuers and care providers, to be honored. California State Assemblyman Jared Huffman gave the welcoming keynote, and KPIX news anchor Dana King, a Marin County resident, led the reunion.

Two of the five survivor stories illustrated the efforts of Ross Valley Paramedic Authority member agencies. The following accounts are excerpted from the event program.

Gunnar Sandberg

Sixteen-year-old Gunnar Sandberg was pitching for his Marin Catholic team when a line drive struck him in the head, dropping him with a fracture and brain contusion. He was taken by the Ross Valley Fire Department to the Marin General trauma center across the street. Admitted to the hospital, his condition deteriorated the second day. “He became increasingly restless and had neurological changes right under the watchful eyes of his parents and the ICU nurses. We knew instantly he needed emergent neurosurgery,” said MJ Boyd, Trauma Program Director for MGH.

His neurosurgeon, Dr. Nguyen, worked to reduce the rapid swelling in Gunnar’s brain. Meanwhile, the entire high school sports community rallied to his side, wearing white tape marked with his number 17. Two weeks passed with no sign of improvement, and then the tide turned. Gunnar was transferred to the California Pacific Regional Rehabilitation Center for physical, speech, and occupational therapy.

In May 2010, Gunnar threw out the first ball at a Giants game. He is now fully recovered and back with his teammates at Marin Catholic. As a result of his injury, school baseball teams changed their policies to prohibit aluminum bats, and a new protective helmet was designed and released.

Rescuers and caregivers

George Halmos

George Halmos was mountain biking near Phoenix Lake when he lost his balance on a bridge and fell. Moments later he knew something was very wrong and called 911, telling dispatch he had a history of heart problems and thought he was having a heart attack. Two fire departments responded, Ross and Corte Madera. The crews found George ashen and sweating, his blood pressure dangerously low, with a cardiac monitor showing a potentially lethal rhythm. It took two shocks to return his heart to a normal beat.

The Corte Madera medics took him to Marin General Hospital, where the cardiac catheterization team was waiting. He had no heart damage but needed an internal defibrillator in case of future episodes. A few days later George walked out of MGH and returned to golfing, body surfing, and alpine skiing.

Rescuers

From the celebration

Survivors Rene Ismael Martinez, Zack Koblick, Gunnar Sandberg, George Halmos, and John Richter.

Gunnar Sandberg on stage with some of his rescuers and caregivers.

Emcee Dana King with Gunnar Sandberg.

Marin County EMS Battalion Chief Mike Giannini introduces keynote speaker Jared Huffman.

Survivor George Halmos on stage with some of his rescuers and caregivers.

Saving lives: true stories

RVPA operates as an essential component of an integrated system of local fire departments, hospitals, and EMS professionals. Marin General Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab ranks in the top 5% of all hospitals in the U.S. for rapid response to heart attacks, and RVPA is a key contributor to that ranking.

“As a recent cardiac patient at MGH, I learned first-hand the superior level of care and compassion provided by the Haynes Cardiovascular Institute at Marin General Hospital. I am proud that such superior care is available in our community.”

Heart attack survivor praises paramedics’ speed and teamwork

Keith Grady was finishing at the Meadow Club driving range when a sharp pain in his chest told him something was wrong. A friend rushed him to the clubhouse, where two doctors attended him and called 911. RVPA paramedics arrived within minutes and transported him to Marin General Hospital, administering nitroglycerine, starting an IV, running an EKG, and calling the critical data ahead. “When I arrived at the hospital the cardiologist was ready for me and had all the info he required to make a quick diagnosis,” Grady says. “They put a stent in me and I’ve been fine ever since.” He credits the fast action and teamwork of the RVPA paramedics with helping to save his life.

Dr. Eric Tepper’s story

At 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, Dr. Eric Tepper had just finished a workout at Gold’s Gym in Corte Madera when a sudden pressure gripped the middle of his chest. As a physician, he knew instantly he was having a heart attack. He asked a personal trainer to call 911; the trainer ran to the front desk to place the call from a landline. Within minutes the Corte Madera Fire Department arrived. Paramedics Jordan Russell, John Higgins, and Paul Hager, with firefighters Glyn Jones, Andrew Lappert, Andrew Calvi, and Ryan Fischer, recognized what was happening. They administered aspirin, took his vital signs, and performed a 12-lead ECG that identified the heart attack.

The ambulance ran Code 3 to Marin General Hospital, alerting the heart catheterization lab. A large artery supplying his heart muscle had become clogged and was opened by Dr. Brian Strunk, who placed a stent that restored blood flow. Dr. Tepper entered a cardiac rehabilitation program and returned to work and the gym. “If I had been at home in southern Marin, the life-saving procedure would have been more delayed because of the additional distance from Marin General,” he said. “It was evident that the men from the Corte Madera Fire Department knew exactly what they were dealing with. They were just terrific.”