By Ja’kori Madison
The Advocate
LAFAYETTE, La. — More than a dozen first responders were honored Wednesday after working together to save the life of a 70-year-old woman who suffered cardiac arrest during Festival International de Louisiane and left the hospital three days later with no neurological deficits.
The patient was defibrillated twice. After the second shock and about 12 minutes of resuscitation, she regained a normal heart rhythm and began making purposeful movements, according to Acadian Ambulance. She was discharged from the hospital three days later with no neurological deficits.
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Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and members of the Acadian Explorers were presented with Acadian Ambulance’s Meritorious Service Award, the organization’s highest honor for lifesaving efforts.
The incident happened April 23 when a 70-year-old woman went into cardiac arrest while attending Festival International.
Two Lafayette police officers began high-quality CPR within one minute of the woman’s collapse. Acadian paramedics, EMTs, Acadian Explorers, and Lafayette firefighters quickly arrived and worked together to continue rescue efforts.
Lafayette police officers Dominique Morgan and Sara Leger were the first responders on scene. Morgan said the officers happened to be only a few feet away when the woman collapsed, allowing them to begin CPR almost immediately while Acadian Ambulance crews were dispatched.
“We were just standing there and somebody told us,” Morgan said. “We were within maybe four or five feet from her, so we let them know on the radio that we were on scene, and we did what we could do.”
Morgan said both officers previously worked as medics with Acadian Ambulance before joining the police department, allowing them to quickly transition into providing medical care.
“To see her pretty much lifeless and then, prior to her leaving the scene, she’s literally awake and talking,” Leger said. “It’s the kind of thing you see firsthand and have to just be thankful you were there to help.”
Among those recognized was Eli Anderson, president of the Acadian Explorers. Anderson, who was off duty at Festival International when the woman collapsed, said the career exploration program allows 14- to 20-year-olds interested in emergency medicine to shadow professionals while earning a basic life support certificate.
“I believe the program really helps young adults like myself,” Anderson said. “If I was just attending Festival International and I wasn’t in the program, I may not have had the knowledge that I have now to be able to go and help.”
Lafayette Fire Department firefighters Payton Savoy and Francisco Lopez said the recognition was meaningful, even though helping people is simply part of the job.
“Honestly, it’s an honor, and it’s a privilege to be able to do what we do,” Savoy said. “At the end of the day it’s our job, but it is nice to get recognized and to be appreciated by our community.”
Brandi Leonard, a paramedic, quality improvement coordinator with Acadian Ambulance and presenter of the award, said the successful outcome reflected the coordination between multiple agencies responding to a high-pressure emergency in the middle of one of Lafayette’s largest annual events.
“We get to do what we love and make a difference in somebody’s life,” Lopez said. “We’re super happy we were there and that she made a recovery. It’s the part of the job that makes it worth it.”
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