Photo By Sgt. Tabitha Bartley | David H. Peeler, a retired colonel, hugs Christina D. Akers, firefighter/paramedic for...... read more read more
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In the late morning, Dec. 14, the Marine Corps Base Quantico Fire Station received a call that someone had driven a truck into a tree.
Within a few minutes firefighters Andrew J. Debord, Jay P. LaLond, Capt. David W. Luckett, Ulysses C. Taormina and firefighter/paramedic Christina D. Akers arrived on scene and found retired colonel David H. Peeler, unconscious behind the wheel… all but dead.
“You were slumped in your seat with no pulse and not breathing,” Akers told Peeler who came to the fire station Friday to thank the crew and give them a medical update.
The firefighters began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and placed an automated external defibrillator on his chest to shock him. After the gaining IV access to administer drugs and a second shock from the AED, Peeler’s pulse was regained and they were able to transfer him into an ambulance.
The life saving measures continued as they headed toward Stafford Hospital, but they were diverted to Mary Washington Hospital.
“I turned to Christina and said we are in it for the long hall now,” said Taormina. “Peeler coded again, and we had to shock and continue CPR on him.”
The firefighters continued CPR even as they arrived at the emergency room.
“We assisted the emergency room staff with CPR until Peeler regained his pulse and was sent to have a CAT scan,” said Taormina.
“This was the first time I was able to get the full story of what happened that day,” said Peeler. “I am so thankful and grateful for what they did.”
“I’ve been doing this job for 17 years,” said Taormina. “There are somethings that people don’t come back from. Over 30 minutes of CPR is one of those things. With the quick response by our EMS crews, their decisive actions and the equipment that we have, we were able to save his life.”
It was confirmed at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. that he had suffered a cardiac arrest. After being stabilized he was transferred to the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond. where he had another arrest several days later and the doctors decided to put in a left ventricular assist device. He was in the hospital for a total of 10 weeks and is currently on the list for a heart transplant.
“The focus shouldn’t be on me,” Peeler said. “It should be about the care and effort the firefighters gave to me and my family, not only on that day but even after. They kept in contact and continue to this day to check up on me and my progress.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2012 15:37 |
| Story ID: | 91693 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Hometown: | PEORIA, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 151 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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