The Royersford Fire Department was honored to recognize local responders from the EMS Division of the department (Friendship Ambulance) as well as individuals from Ridge Fire Company & East Coventry Township Police Department for their actions on June 12th, 2018 during a cardiac arrest medical emergency. The presentation took place at the monthly meeting of the East Coventry Township Board of Supervisors on Monday October 8th, 2018.

Just after 10:30am Friendship Ambulance was dispatched to Ridge Road in East Coventry Township for a patient who was reported to be choking. The emergency was quickly upgraded to a cardiac arrest which added the assistance of the Ridge Fire Company. Prior to EMS arrival, East Coventry Township Police Officer Mistie Greenwalt and Ridge Fire Company Lieutenant Jack Clark arrived and immediately recognized the severity of the situation with Officer Greenwalt performing chest compressions and Lt. Clark applying an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The AED delivered one shock to the patient prior to EMS arrival and then a second shortly after EMS had arrived.

Care was turned over to the EMS crew of EMS Supervisor/Paramedic Lenny Brown, EMT Matt Lex, and EMS Supervisor/Paramedic Matt Wagner who aggressively treated the patient by placing an automated chest compression device (LUCAS device) on the patient to continue high-quality compressions as well as using a bag-valve-mask to deliver oxygen to the patient. An intravenous line was established, and the patient was intubated all while in the bedroom of the residence. 19 minutes after being dispatched and 10 minutes after EMS arriving onscene the patient regained pulses and began to breath on her own. She was transported to Phoenixville Hospital for continued treatment. She spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit and ultimately was transferred to Bryn Mawr Rehab. After several weeks of treatment returned home with minimal lasting deficits each day getting a little bit stronger.

The patient we talk about in the account above is Bonnie Bock, a resident of East Coventry Township, who is back at home with her family. Friendship Ambulance & Royersford Fire Department were honored to reunite the crews who responded to the emergency and Mrs. Bock during the East Coventry Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Without a doubt this outcome would be vastly different without the quick and effective actions of the police department, fire department, and the EMS team who responded this day. Friendship Ambulance & Royersford Fire Department are proud to present the following responders with a “Live Saving Commendation” certificate as well as a commendation ribbon to display proudly on their uniform. Friendship Ambulance Medical Director Dr. Bert Schiffer was on hand to present the commendations to the following responders.

East Coventry Township Police Department - Officer Mistie Greenwalt
Ridge Fire Company - Lieutenant Lack Clark (Deputy Chief Roger Kolb accepting on behalf of Lt. Clark)
Friendship Ambulance - EMS Supervisor/Paramedic Lenny Brown
Friendship Ambulance - EMT Matt Lex
Friendship Ambulance - EMS Supervisor/Paramedic - Matt Wagner

Unfortunately a 911 emergency was dispatched and EMS Supervisor/Paramedic Matt Wagner was not able to formally receive his commendation but was in attendance for a period of time.