Cocoa Fire Rescue Recognized with Life-Saving Award After Saving 12-Year-Old From Severe Asthma Attack

By Space Coast Daily // June 16, 2021

public service news

“It makes me so proud to see just what hard work and dedication our men and women put in each and every day serving our citizens,” said Cocoa Fire Chief Jonathan Lamm. (Cocoa Fire Rescue image)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa Fire Rescue Engine 31-C Shift and Brevard County Rescue 45 were recognized by the medical personnel at Orlando Health, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

A special recognition ceremony was held last Friday where a representative from Orlando Health presented a life-saving award to each rescuer that changed the outcome of a critical health emergency for a 12-year-old patient.

On May 15th, Cocoa Fire Rescue Engine 31 with LT/Paramedic Bruce Hutchinson, Driver Operator/Paramedic Eric Holt, Firefighter/EMT Nicolas Marcantonio, and Firefighter/EMT Thalia Mendoza, and Brevard County Rescue 45 with LT/Paramedic Nicolas Fuoco and FF/Paramedic Tiffany Reid were dispatched to the residence of a 12-year-old male having a severe asthma attack. When Engine 31 arrived, the patient was in the arms of his father, unresponsive and not breathing effectively.

“When we arrived on scene the child was taking his last couple breaths by the street as we pulled up,” Lt. Hutchinson said. “We opened the door and we were immediately handed a child, and from there we went to work.”

Driver Operator/Paramedic Holt assumed the role of the lead care provider and began to assist the patient’s breathing by administering positive pressure ventilation and nebulized medications to relax the patient’s lungs to allow for better air exchange.

The crew from Brevard County Rescue 45 arrived and care was transferred to LT/Paramedic Fuoco with continued treatment during the emergent transport to Rockledge Regional Medical Center.

The patient remained in a serious condition requiring a tube to be inserted to secure his airway for continued oxygenation with a ventilator.

The patient was later transferred to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando where he made a complete recovery.

“I think we get caught up in the day to day things, even though some of them feel they just did their jobs, they truly made a difference in this family when their world was upside down that evening,” said Sonny Weishaupt, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

“We feel they needed to be recognized for really making a difference in this child’s life.”

The 12 -year-old patient suffered a severe asthma attack which could have been fatal had it not been for the combined efforts of the rescue crews and the medical experts at Rockledge Regional and Orlando Health.

“It makes me so proud to see just what hard work and dedication our men and women put in each and every day serving our citizens,” said Cocoa Fire Chief Jonathan Lamm.

“It’s not just this call, but every day, they give 110%, and this is just another way to show how they are changing the lives of the people in our community.”

“It’s a great feeling,” said Brevard County Rescue 45 Lt. Nick Fuoco. “It’s very rewarding. We do run a lot of calls that have a terrible outcome. To have an impact on someone that young, it’s a good feeling.”

“We’re very grateful,” added Lt. Hutchinson. “We really do have a great job. You can go home and really feel like you’re contributing, making a difference, and impacting people’s lives.”