Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
EMS Recognition Awards Breakfast honors rescuers.
Hanrahan nearly died one morning in January when his wife found him in bed, gasping for air. Hanrahan doesn’t remember a deputy running in to perform CPR or the paramedics getting him to the emergency room.
Despite his doctor saying he had less than a 10 percent chance of surviving, Hanrahan, 65, of Deerfield Beach, woke up after almost a week in a medically induced coma. He wouldn’t leave the hospital until about two months later.
On Monday, the former Broward Sheriff’s deputy and former Broward Police Benevolent Association president, who retired from both in 2012, got a chance to thank some of the people who saved his life at the 24th Annual EMS Recognition Awards Breakfast Monday morning at Broward Health North.
“Even when your surgeon says it’s a miracle that you’re walking, I can’t believe it,” he said. “Thank God they saved my life. What more can you do? I’m here.”
The event helps kick off National EMS week and honors paramedics from agencies across the county for their life-saving work.
Among those recognized at the event were a group of Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue paramedics who rescued Michael Adler, a 25-year-old who had been in a serious motorcycle crash. Paramedics were only at the crash for a minute before getting him to the hospital in about five minutes.
Paramedics from Pompano Beach were recognized for saving a 17-year-old girl who tried to commit suicide when she was hit by a Tri-Rail train but survived and was trapped under the train.
Paramedic of the year was awarded to Capt. David Greenstein of Tamarac Fire Rescue for his leadership, ongoing education and numerous other qualities. He saved and performed CPR on a retired police officer who had collapsed at a hotel and wasn’t breathing while on vacaPatrick tion.
Among those recognized were Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Lieutenant David Blum and several other paramedics who helped rescue Hanrahan.
The call happened about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 15. Blum arrived at Hanrahan’s Deerfield Beach home to find a deputy performing CPR on Hanrahan.
“His heart was not beating,” Blum said.
His cardiologist, Dr. Andre Landau, opened up Hanrahan’s artery and cooled his brain to prevent damage from the loss of oxygen.
“His survival was miraculous,” Landau said. “It’s always great to have a survivor come through unscathed.”
After going through what he did, Hanrahan said he has a new perspective on life.
He’s staying active by going on walks, riding his bike and watching what he eats, he said.
“It’s a heck of a way to lose 30 pounds but it was worth it,” Hanrahan said.