Stars of Life Honored During EMS Week

May 19, 2003

Alan Etter

DC Fire & EMS kicked off National EMS Week with an emotional ceremony at Freedom Plaza.  Two people who collapsed in cardiac arrest were reunited with the firefighters and EMS providers who saved them last year.

On April 9^th, Purnanshu Meta collapsed outside Metro Headquarters at 5^th & F Streets, NW.  He had no pulse or respiration.  To Meta’s benefit, he was observed by fellow Metro employee Tom Crone and Maryland paramedic Art Gillings.  Both men are trained in CPR.  Gillings began mouth to barrier resuscitation while Crone began chest compressions.  Within a minute, members of Rescue Squad 1 arrived to take over.  They used an automatic external defibrillator to shock Meta’s heart into a regular rhythm.  EMS Supervisor Harry Jones then arrived with Medic 4 to continue care and transport Meta to the hospital.  Honored with a Star of Life award was Mr. Meta; Lifesaver awards were given to Crone, Gillings, Capt. Harry Jones and paramedics Tracie Johnson and Carlton Pinkney, and members of RS1: Capt. Brian Lee, Sgt. Bernard Holt, FF Christopher Holmes, FF Gary Morton and FF Dennis Mills.

On October 19^th, Richard Jones began having chest pains at work.  When Engine 2 and Ambulance 2 arrived, he was alert but in obvious distress.  As the crew of Medic 1 arrived, Jones had slipped into ventricular fibrillation.

The paramedics delivered a shock to Jones’ heart using an AED, and his cardiac rhythm returned to normal.  Jones was awarded the Star of Life, while EMT Harold Dargan, paramedic Mark Baker and the crew of Engine 2: Lt. William Wallace, FF Robert Kearney, FF David Harris and FF Anthony Lowe were all bestowed Lifesaver awards.