Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
HONORS FOR MINQUAS
Ambulance company earns award for saving woman’s life
DOWNINGTOWN » Shortly after dinner recently, a 56-year-old woman and her male companion sat on their couch relaxing in their apartment in East Caln Township.
The woman clutched her chest and told her friend that she was not feeling well and that she was going to get something from the medicine cabinet. She stood up and collapsed. “When we arrived on scene she was basically dead,” recalled Joseph Colace, paramedic with Minquas Ambulance. “She was not breathing, no pulse, and her color was not good. I took over CPR, administered cardiac medications, established an intravenous drip, and used an automated external defibrillator. After shocking her three times, we got a pulse.”
All of this happened within 15 minutes from the time the 911 call was placed.
This successful save drew widespread community notice.
For their efforts, the entire emergency personnel team — including the police officers of Downingtown Borough and personnel of Minquas Fire Co. No.2 ambulance and Uwchlan Ambulance Corps — were presented the Clinical Save Award, CPR./AED by the Chester Council Emergency Medical Service Council Inc.
A “clinical save” is a medical industry term which describes an act by emergency service providers that occurs when treating a patient that is not breathing and pulseless — an action which, taken prior to arrival at the hospital, results in the patient’s respiratory and circulatory system being restarted.
A clinical save is the single most significant recognition that is bestowed on a member of the emergency services community and considered a high honor.
The award was presented by the Chester Council Emergency Medical Service Council at its awards banquet, an annual event that recognizes emergency responders from all over Chester County for their outstanding achievements in the services they provide.