Local Responders Receive Recognition for Saving Pine Man

On Friday, April 21, 2023 at 6:07PM, a call was placed to Allegheny County 911 for a man who had fallen down, and was not breathing. Barbara Traugott had witnessed her husband experience a sudden cardiac arrest. Barbara’s husband, Alan Traugott, was an otherwise healthy 69-year-old man who had only been experiencing what he believed to be heart burn prior to his collapse. The Allegheny County 911 call taker, Deanne Moore, instructed Barbara to deliver CPR to her husband. Barbara provided CPR for approximately 6 minutes before the first responder arrived on scene. Units from the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company Quick Response Service and McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority were dispatched to the scene at 6:09PM. With the update of CPR in progress, an additional ambulance and the AHN Paramedic Response unit marked enroute. Wexford VFC’s 228 Squad 1 arrived first on scene at 6:12PM. EMT Nathan Nicklas entered the home and immediately applied the AED carried by the squad. The AED detected a shockable rhythm, ventricular fibrillation, and

advised a shock. At 6:15PM, the first shock was delivered, 7 minutes and 54 seconds from the start of the 911 call. EMT Nicklas would continue to provide CPR, including a second shock from the AED, until the McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance arrived on scene and initiated advanced life support care at 6:17PM. For the next 20 minutes and 42 seconds, 5 EMTs (2 WVFC/3 MFPAA) and 3 Paramedics (2 MFPAA/1 AHN) would provide high quality advanced cardiac life support care in an attempt to resuscitate Alan. At 6:38PM, 30 minutes and 48 seconds since the 911 call was placed, Alan’s heart began to beat on its own again. Alan was transported to AHN Wexford Hospital and underwent heart catheterization, receiving a stent to reopen his 100% occluded left anterior descending coronary artery. Alan was then transported by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for further care. Alan would be discharged to home, and was back in the place where this all started in 8 days.

Today we were able to meet, once again, to recognize everyone’s effort at the Pirates game. This is what it’s all about.