Corps engineering technician reacts quickly to medical emergency

Posted February 10, 2010
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

2/10/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — As part of a comprehensive health and safety program, Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, installed Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the district headquarters (Waterfield building), as well as all district project field offices. The district also trained employees to ensure there were authorized AED responders at these locations.

An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. An AED treats patients through defibrillation -- the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

At approximately 11:45 a.m., Feb. 8, the superintendent of the Corps' Spillway Number 3 replacement contract work at Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, Portsmouth, Va., called to report one of his employees had passed out. He said he had called 911 and would meet them at the Craney Island gate and lead them to the employee.

"I knew from past experience here that emergency response to our location can sometimes be confusing because of the remote location," said Carlos Quinones, a Craney Island civil engineering technician.

Quinones said he immediately grabbed the AED mounted on the wall and drove to the scene to see if he could assist. When he arrived at the scene, he saw the man lying on the ground and someone performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

His first aid/CPR training immediately took over.

"I approached the man and noticed that he was barely breathing. I instructed the young man, who was administering chest compressions, to stop. The young man, who was also the victim's stepson, appeared extremely distraught, but he told me he will help if needed," Quinones said.

Quinones said he tried to get the victim to speak, nod his head or even blink, but he could not respond. "His breathing was getting increasingly erratic, and after about two minutes, had stopped breathing," Quinones added.

Quinones then checked for a pulse and when there was none he unpacked the AED and instructed the stepson to lift his father's shirt so he could place the AED pads on his bare skin. Once the pads were in place, the AED scanned the victim's body and audibly informed Quinones to clear the patient and administer shock.

"After clearing the area of bystanders, I administered shock and observed a considerable convulsion of the victim's body. I then checked for signs of breathing and a pulse. The victim slowly began breathing and within 3-4 minutes, regained consciousness," said Quinones.

For the remaining 6-7 minutes before an emergency medical team arrived, Quinones kept talking to the victim to keep him conscious. Once the ambulance arrived the medical crew took over.

Quinones, an eight-year Corps veteran, who acts as a contracting officer representative and quality assurance inspector at Craney Island, said that while this incident was his first use of the AED, it is a very simple device requiring the user to follow very basic directions.

"The AED is not a panacea for all emergencies or even all cardiac incidents, but the full integration of these potentially life-saving devices into our district health and safety program is very important," stressed Quinones. "We'll use this incident as a teachable moment to inspire, motivate and continue our everyday goal of making Craney Island a safe working environment for all."

Quinones dropped by the hospital this morning to check up on his "recovering patient." Doctors anticipate a full recovery within two weeks.