Pensioner thanks crew for saving his life

IN the decade since defibrillation was introduced at Dublin Airport, the Dublin Airport Police and Fire Service have saved the lives of 19 people who were suffering cardiac arrest at the airport.

One such grateful person, 85-year-old Jack Healy, was only too happy to return to the airport to say thank you to the crew involved in his incident.

Mr Healy suffered a severe cardiac arrest on September 2, 2012 outside Terminal 2. Within two minutes members of the Airport Police/Fire Service were on the scene to attend to Mr Healy.

As with all suspected cardiac arrest incidents, the team quickly enacted their protocol to examine the person and initiate CPR.

The team quickly assessed Mr Healy had no pulse and administered automatic external defibrillation (AED) to resuscitate him.

The Airport Fire Service ambulance then transported Mr Healy to Beaumont Hospital where he spent six weeks recovering from the event.

Mr Healy, who is now thankfully back to full health, was accompanied by his family to the Airport Fire Station to make a presentation to the crew who were involved in his rescue.

The family expressed their gratitude to the crew for saving their father’s life.

In 2012 three lives were saved through the use of defibrillation at Dublin Airport.

Brendan Lavin, Airport Police Fire Officer, described one of the incidents he attended.

“My colleague, Ken Brown, and I received a call that a passenger, a German national travelling with his wife, had collapsed in Terminal 2,

? explained Mr Lavin.

“We attend every incident of a reported collapse as a potential cardiac arrest.

“Thankfully, 80 per cent of these calls are no more than a fainting incident.

“When we arrived two retired doctors were in attendance and could detect no pulse on the gentleman.

“We immediately examined the man, administered CPR and ultimately used AED, which succeeded in getting a pulse.

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Mr Lavin added:

“The Airport Fire Service ambulance then transported the man to Beaumont Hospital.

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Just one week later an Irish woman collapsed in the baggage hall of Terminal 2.

Airport Police offer Trevor Giltrap and Duty Sergeant Stephen Morris attended to the lady, who also required defibrillation before being transported to hospital.

Defibrillators are located at all main public access areas at Dublin Airport.