Another save in Albany CA

On Feb. 5, the Fire Department responded to a report of a woman who wasn't breathing.

"Upon arrival we found a female, supine on the ground, with bystander CPR in progress. CPR was stopped and it was determined the patient had a carotid pulse with no respirations," wrote Capt. John Weitzel on Feb. 15 in a report to Chief Marc McGinn. "The patient was place on our Phillips monitor and ventilations were initiated. Shortly after ventilations began the patient went into cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm.... The patient was defibrillated ... resulting in a pulse with a viable rhythm and ... stable blood pressure."

Fire department personnel continued to ventilate the woman, established an intervenous line and provided further life support care, according to Weitzel. The Berkeley Fire Department continued advance life support care and took the woman to the hospital.

Weitzel said he spoke with the woman on Feb. 15.

"She told me she did not suffer any deficits as a result of this incident," he wrote. "I would like to thank all those involved, especially the bystanders at the Albany YMCA for their courageous actions. Bystander assistance and CPR is paramount to the chain of survival and recovery of anyone in such a critical situation."