For Grandinetti, he could not recall what happened. The Sault Ste. Marie native suffered a heart attack and was found almost dead beside his vehicle in the parking lot of Rome’s Independent Grocer. Apparently, an unknown woman saw him and called 911.
It was only minutes when the paramedics arrived on the scene. They started treatment immediately and save the life of the 65-year old man.
Timely intervention
After returning from a Sudbury hospital, Grandinetti sought out the paramedics who saved his life. He had no idea who they were but showed up at the local Emergency Medical Services offices requesting to meet the EMS workers responsible.
His visit was a great timing since it was the National Emergency Services Week. Upon meeting the paramedics who saved his life, he gratefully thanked them.
Grandinetti was not breathing and does not have a pulse when bystanders in the parking lot flagged down the emergency team, Hilary Sadowsky and Sherri Rathwell’s ambulance.
According to Rathwell, he did not have any vitals when we arrived. The EMS team started to perform CPR and attached him to a defibrillator. He had a shockable rhythm and delivered 4 shocks but did not revive.
Since a pulse cannot be restored, the protocol after delivering 4 shocks is to leave the scene and provide definitive care in a healthcare facility. The paramedics remained at the Sault Area Hospital to help briefly as the ER workers administered medication to Grandinetti and shocked him a few more times and was able to restore a pulse.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a first aid and CPR class and for more information, check out these sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/qa/what-is-cardiopulmonary-resuscitationcpr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator