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Sheriff’s deputies save life of Prattsville man in cardiac arrest

By Colin DeVries

PRATTSVILLE — Greene County deputies saved the life of a 78-year-old Prattsville man on Sunday, after he had lost consciousness and showed no vital signs.

At approximately 10:20 a.m. on Sunday dispatchers at the Greene County Emergency Control Center received a 911 call reporting the man, who was not identified by police, was unconscious at his home in Prattsville. According to a 911 caller, a family member, the man had complained of chest pain and difficulty breathing moments earlier.

Dispatchers Randy Ormerod, Roy Chamberlain, and George Grainer handled the call and determined that the man had likely suffered from cardiac arrest. Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Gary Carlson and Deputy Donald Schoenborn were patrolling in the area and were first responders to the scene.

Upon arrival, Carlson and Schoenborn found the man on a sofa surrounded by family attempting to resuscitate him, he had no vital signs. The policemen quickly retrieved the automated external defibrillator, or AED, from the patrol car and placed the man on the living room floor.

Carlson and Schoenborn alternated performing CPR on the man after shocking the man with the AED until rescue crews arrived. The man’s vital signs returned and he was attempting to breath on his own before being transported to Margaretville Memorial Hospital by Prattsville Rescue Squad. The man was later transported to Albany Medical Center.

“Sergeant Carlson and Deputy Schoenborn should be very proud of themselves,” said Sheriff Greg Seeley. “Their quick response and actions at the scene undoubtedly saved this man’s life... Everyone, from the dispatchers to the paramedics and the deputies, should be commended.”

The AED is designed to analyze the patient’s heart rhythm, then shock the patient based on any detected problem or irregularity. The Sheriff’s Office currently carries AEDs in five patrol vehicles and was able to purchase AEDs with a grant acquired through the assistance of Senator James Seward.

“Situations such as this are perfect illustrations of why patrols are assigned to substations and zones across the county,” Seeley said. “Having patrols scattered throughout the county is critical for a fast response time to any scene, whether it be a minor automobile accident, burglary or, as in this case, a life threatening medical emergency. Deputy Schoenborn’s regular post is out of the Prattsville Substation and he never leaves the Mountaintop zone.”

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