Late Saturday evening, Spring Hill EMS’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) teams were dispatched to a call for a patient experiencing severe respiratory distress. Within two minutes, volunteer paramedics and EMTs arrived on scene to find the patient in critical condition.
The team immediately initiated care, placing the patient on a BiPAP ventilator to provide non-invasive oxygenation support. This approach allowed the patient to breathe more comfortably while avoiding immediate intubation, improving both oxygen levels and the potential for a smoother recovery.
As the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, paramedics escalated care using advanced airway techniques. The patient was sedated with ketamine and intubated to secure the airway. Once stabilized, the patient was placed back on the ventilator for continued respiratory support during transport to the hospital. To further ensure the patient’s comfort, fentanyl was administered to manage any lingering pain.
Spring Hill EMS thanks its dedicated volunteers for their professionalism and life-saving efforts:
E. Ungar – Paramedic/Chief
A. Zilberberg – Paramedic
S. Eisenberg – Paramedic
E. Muller – EMT
M. Dergel – EMT
Spring Hill ALS is proud to be the only 911 agency in Rockland County equipped with both ventilators and ketamine, tools that allow their team to provide the highest level of emergency medical care in the field.
