Quick response saves man
PALMDALE — A Palmdale man is alive today thanks to the quick work of Palmdale sheriff ’s station Deputy Garcia and others.
On Sunday, the Palmdale station received a medical rescue emergency on the 900 block of E Avenue Q.
Deputy Knutson answered the 9-1-1 call and was advised of a male adult — Vincent Vasquez — bleeding uncontrollably from his arm due to a prior medical procedure.
Vasquez and his family members were attempting to stop the his blood flow by using a belt as a makeshift tourniquet. Knutson calm
ly explained to the family the importance of keeping pressure on the wound until the medical personnel arrived.
Upon the arrival of Palmdale station deputies, they noticed Vasquez was losing a lot of blood very quickly and beginning to slip in and out of consciousness. Knowing time was of the essence, Garcia quickly sprang into action and applied the tourniquet from his duty belt to Vasquez’s left arm.
The tourniquet was able to stop the major blood flow, ultimately saving Vasquez’s life. Los Angeles County Fire and EMS arrived to the location and transported the patient to a local hospital where he underwent a successful surgery.
On Monday, Garcia took time out of his shift to drop by and visit Vasquez, who is recovering in the hospital.
He was in good spirits and truly grateful for the actions taken by all first responders involved. He truly believes that if it were not for the quick actions of Garcia and all other parties involved, he would not be alive today.