Leon Ressler of Peach Bottom went into cardiac arrest on Jan. 3 while watching online Sunday church services with his wife, Lou Ann. Thankfully, he not only survived the medical crisis, but he recently returned to Wakefield EMS to thank the emergency medical service (EMS) workers who helped to save him.

Tyler McCardell, EMS chief at Wakefield, explained that when Leon suddenly became unresponsive, Lou Ann, a nurse at a local retirement community, sprang into action, beginning CPR and immediately dialing 911. Less than six minutes later, the on-duty ambulance crew from Wakefield EMS arrived on scene and continued resuscitation efforts for over an hour before transferring Leon for care at a hospital.

Wakefield crews were assisted by firefighters from Robert Fulton Fire Company and a paramedic from the Lancaster EMS Quarryville station. Together, their combined efforts led to a successful outcome. Leon returned home after a weeklong hospital stay.

McCardell reported the incident to the Emergency Health Services Federation, the regional governing body for EMS agencies in southcentral Pennsylvania. The federation later issued the Clinical Save Award to EMS providers involved in the call for "exemplary clinical care in the prehospital setting."

"They verified the outcome, and the federation sent the award to us to give to the individual providers," McCardell said. "We have only received this award for our providers twice in the last three years."

On Feb. 5, Leon presented the Clinical Save Award to the EMS workers who saved him. A Citizen's Life-Saving Award was presented to Lou Ann, as well.

At the ceremony, Leon offered his gratitude, stating, "I am blessed that God gave me extra days on Earth. But God works through people, and He was certainly working through you all that day. Thank you so much to everyone involved."

"He was unresponsive and pulseless on his living room floor (during the incident) and (came to the Wakefield EMS for the award presentation) walking, talking and chatting as we showed him the code strip of all the shocks we gave his heart," McCardell shared. "It was an amazing experience to stand next to him and talk to him. We don't always get to see the positive outcome."

McCardell said that Lou Ann was an integral part of the team effort. "For every minute that someone goes without CPR, their chances of survival drop dramatically. She filled a five-minute gap by performing high-quality chest compressions, setting the stage for (our arrival)," he stated.

He also highlighted that February is American Heart Month. "We encourage everyone to use this story as inspiration to learn CPR because it can absolutely save a life and make a huge difference," McCardell said.

"This is such a special moment for all of us," added McCardell. "Unfortunately, survival rates from cardiac arrest are low, but this is a textbook example of when the whole system works together it can literally save lives."