00:00Registrar at the Accident and Emergency Department at the Scarborough General Hospital, Dr. Emily Alpheus told TV6 News an announcement
00:09was made requesting medical personnel on board.
00:13She responded and found the woman surrounded by a small crowd gasping for breath before losing consciousness.
00:21I just turned over and started CPR. One of the staff, he was there, he was like, Doc, you need
00:25anything? I said, we need an AAD, go get the AAD.
00:27I was shocked that they even had one, but I had to ask for it, right? He went, he got
00:33it.
00:34But while he left for it, I was doing chest compressions. It's hard to do chest compressions by yourself, ongoing,
00:43very hard.
00:45This angel-sent person came. He introduced himself, said he's BLS strain, and said that he's a physician on vacation
00:53from the U.S.
00:54And he said, Doc, when you're tired, we'll switch out. So I told him, I said, when the AAD comes,
01:01we will switch out.
01:02Dr. Alpheus said she immediately began resuscitation efforts, calling for additional medical equipment and assistance.
01:10A physician visiting from the United States also joined in the emergency response.
01:16After several tense moments, the woman regained consciousness.
01:21At this time, the other doctor, who was on vacation, he's on chest compression, I'm on airway, and that round
01:29of CPR finished, and shock was, well, assessing the rhythm, and the AAD, shock advised.
01:36So we had shocked her. At that time, I told him, I said, continue CPR.
01:41He said, no, I think I feel in that pulse. I said, continue CPR.
01:44And I, on airway, was feeling her pushing against the oropharyngeal airway, kind of like trying to give breaths.
01:52So I know we have something going here.
01:54So I'm giving rescue breaths while we're going with tootsie compressions to two breaths, tootsie compressions to two breaths until
02:00that cycle was over.
02:01I put my hand on her pulse, and we have ROSC, which is return of spontaneous circulation.
02:07The vessel was then turned around and returned to Port of Spain, where the elderly woman was taken by ambulance
02:15to the Port of Spain General Hospital for further treatment.
02:19Dr. Alfia said she is grateful for the outcome.
02:22She noted that just two years ago, she assisted in a similar emergency in Trinidad, and that patient is also
02:30doing well today.
02:31So I'm just glad it was a good outcome. I'm thankful for all who was around.
02:35I was able to help Lenda Willinghan, the other physician who was on vacation, the patient care assistants, and the
02:42other members of staff from the Booker Reef.
02:44I am grateful that we were able to help this family, that is.
02:49I got word from her relatives that she's doing well, and from the doctors over there, that she's doing better.
02:55So we're thankful for that. So praise to God.
02:57Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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