Teamwork helps save cardiac arrest victim

By Mike Berger

Fire Chief Charlie Doody said the training session on pre-hospital instruction given to all members of the Fire Department worked to perfection last week as police, EMTs and paramedics — and even the 911 caller — worked together to revive a cardiac arrest victim who had collapsed on the 17^th hole of the Ponkapoag Golf Course at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 30.

CFD file photo

The victim — an unidentified male in his early 60s — was recovering at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as of Tuesday morning, said Fire Lt. Brian Marshall.

Firefighter John Buckley, manning the dispatch desk at the main station, provided treatment instructions over the phone to the golfer who had called 911 and then to police officers Sean Becker and John McCourt, who had emergency defibrillation equipment with them in their cruisers. Firefighters and paramedics arrived a short time later and transported the victim to an awaiting ambulance, which brought him to Norwood Hospital and then to St. Elizabeth’s.

“This was a textbook case of how everyone should have responded,” said Doody. “It was a great chain of execution. It was a great example of the way the call should go. I am thrilled with the way everyone handled it, especially John Buckley.”

Aiding in the response were Lt. Tom Driscoll, firefighter/EMTs Michael Moriarty and Dan Whitley, and paramedics John Tsohandaridis and Michael Hache.

Ponkapoag Golf Course evacuated for gas leak

The Ponkapoag Golf Course was evacuated for 90 minutes on Tuesday, May 28, due to a gas leak. Fire Lt. Brian Marshall said a construction crew digging a trench near the putting greens hit a gas line. The Fire Department ordered an immediate evacuation of the buildings on the property and cordoned off the area. The Columbia Gas Co. was called in to replace the line.

Phone thefts reported

Police are urging residents to lock away their personal belongings following a rash of cell phone thefts reported at the Blue Hills Village gym, the CHS gym, and in unlocked cars. Police said all valuables should be secured and hidden from view.

Police launch ‘When in doubt, give a shout’ campaign

Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz is urging all residents to report any and all suspicious activity as part of his new “When in doubt, give a shout” campaign.

The campaign comes after a recent meeting with worship leaders of all denominations, as well as recent neighborhood canvassing by police, which highlighted the need for resident assistance in police investigations. The Boston Marathon bombings, in which explosives were detonated from backpacks left out in the open, has also raised public awareness of suspicious activity reporting.

“The public are our eyes and ears and can definitely help us,” said Berkowitz. “If you see something — drug related, domestic violence related, anything suspicious — please call us.”

“No call is too small,” said Deputy Chief Helena Findlen. “If something is out of the ordinary or something isn’t right, please call us.”

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