(Washington, DC) Fire/EMS personnel from Paramedic Engine Co. (PEC) 16 are credited with saving the life of a man whose heart had stopped inside the Executive Mansion.

PEC 16 responded just after 2:30 pm yesterday (April 5, 2005) to the report of a person having chest pains. When firefighters arrived at the White House, the 57-year-old man was conscious and alert, being attended to by a White House physician. Then the man went unconscious - in full cardiac arrest.

Firefighter-Paramedic Tim Bennett immediately began an assessment of the man, who was found to be asystole (no electrical activity in the heart). An automated external defibrillator (AED) was employed one time. The man did not respond. Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was started, and, in less than a minute, the man regained consciousness. He was later transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

"This demonstrates the success of [DC Fire/EMS's] efforts to get Advanced Life Support services to medical calls more quickly," said Fire/EMS Chief Adrian H. Thompson. "PECs work, and as our system evolves, more advanced life support resources will be available to people who need them."