Cardiac arrest victim saved by EMFD ex-captain

The quick actions of Robert Grigonis, an ex-captain and 20-year-veteran of the East Meadow Fire Department, helped save a man suffering from cardiac arrest.

While standing on line at the West Marina in Point Lookout on Sept. 8 in pursuit of a boat slip for next year, Grigonis heard a thump, and noticed that a man had fallen to the ground. Recognizing it was not a simple fall, Grigonis immediately went to the man’s side.

“I asked him if he was OK ... he wasn’t responding back to me and I noticed blood on his face” Grigonis said. “I then rolled him over supporting his head and neck and noticed he was turning blue. I then checked for a pulse but there was nothing so I began my check of ABC’s [Airway, Breathing, and Circulation procedures practiced in the EMS field]. I still had nothing, so I started CPR.”

An off -duty Garden City police officer, who happened to  be on the same line, called 911 and went inside to locate an AED, as Grigonis continued CPR. The Officer connected the patient to the device, which analyzed the patient’s condition, and advised them to shock the patient. A check for a pulse after the first shock showed no improvement. So Bob continued applying CPR on the patient.

Shortly after, a Point Lookout-Lido fire chief and an NCPD police officer arrived, followed by ambulances from the Point Lookout F.D. and Nassau County. As other help began arriving, and with effective CPR continuing, another shock was advised and carried out.

Grigonis then checked for a pulse and breathing, finding that both had returned. The Nassau County Police Ambulance transported the man to Long Beach Hospital, and later that night, he was transferred to Long Island Jewish Hospital.

Days later, Grigonis visited the stranger who became a friend. A man he now knew as Albert, Grigonis said, was doing “great” and celebrated his 80th birthday on Sept. 13.

Grigonis was first a member of East Meadow Rescue Co. No. 5, but has served the majority of his volunteer career with Engine Co. No. 3.

That cardiac save was the second in nine days for the East Meadow Fire Department. On Aug. 31, East Meadow volunteers responded to a call for an elderly man in severe distress because of several illnesses. As the patient was being assessed, the patient collapsed into cardiac arrest. Members, including Chief Keith Hoffman, worked feverishly in unison as CPR continued and advanced life support, as medical responders administered medications in an effort to restart the heart. Within minutes, there was a heart beat. The patient was promptly transported to the Nassau University Medical Center. At the time, the patient was stabilized but in serious condition, and no update was available on his condition.

The Chief’s office commended the following for their efforts in the aforementioned response: Ex-Captain/Fire-Medic Kathy Walsh, Fire-Medic Keri-Ann Flanagan, Ex Captain Daniel Thompson, Fire-Medic Kathy Choy, Firefighter-Paramedic Jonathan Haber, Firefighter-EMT Daniel Corr, and Ex Chief-EMT John O’Brien.