Franklin County EMT’s Honored by Anderson County, SC County Council

Franklin County EMT’s are recognized in Anderson County, SC for their efforts in saving the life of a heart attack victim.

Josh Smith and Scott O’Barr attended the Anderson County Council meeting Tuesday evening at the Anderson County Council’s EMS Commission’s invitation.

There a proclamation was read and passed proclaiming February Heart Health Awareness Month in Anderson County..

Smith says he and O’Barr and Daniel White were recognized for helping to save the life of a Franklin County man who suffered a massive heart attack while working in a family member’s yard.

“He was there doing some yard work and he fell over,” Smith said. “The family members who were there told us he got too hot and passed out, but when we got there we found he was in full cardiac arrest.”

Smith said when he and O’Barr and EMT Daniel White arrived at the house, they immediately began CPR on the victim, whose name has not been released because of privacy laws, and he was taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson.

“Once we started CPR at the house, the man was transported to AnMed Health and was treated,” Smith said. “He was discharged a short time after that and is at home doing well.”

Anderson County Councilwoman M. Cindy Wilson says EMT’s like Smith, O’Barr and White play a vital role in helping to save the lives of heart attack victims when minutes count between life and death.

“It’s just so inspiring to be around these people,” she said. “You just don’t come across such devoted, committed professionals. They just love people and they try to do everything they can to help.”

Smith said Heart Health Awareness Month is a good time for people to take time to learn how to do CPR.

“These guys did exceptional work reviving this guy, because nationwide survival rate is about 10 – 13%,” said Brandon Gibson, Franklin County EMS training officer. “What worked with this guy was early CPR.”

Gibson says quick work on the part of Smith, O’Barr and White saved the man’s life, but everyone should know one simple technique if a loved one suffers a heart attack.

“If we could get the public to go to handsoncpr.org, they can learn how to do CPR and it would take about 60 seconds,” Gibson said.

Gibson said the new CPR method does not involve having to blow breaths into a heart attack victim’s mouth, but is simply performing constant regular compressions on the victim’s chest.

Additionally, you no longer have to be certified to perform CPR, he said.

To learn more about how to do CPR go online to www.handsoncpr.org.