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RALSTON -- A McIntyre Township man who went into cardiac arrest Saturday night after being struck by a tree limb was brought back to life thanks to the cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts administered first by a volunteer fire police officer, who was with him at time, and other emergency responders who were on the scene within minutes, according to Ralston Fire Chief John Orr.
The victim, who was believed to be in his 50s, was pruning tree limbs in his front yard on Route 14, about a mile south of here, with his son along with a friend, Devon Whitehill, who is the fire police captain of the Ralston Volunteer Fire Company.
After a pruning saw got stuck in a limb, a chainsaw was then used to cut the limb, which struck the victim as it fell about 7 p.m., Orr said. "It struck him with enough force to cause him to go into cardiac arrest," Orr said, adding that the county's 911 center was immediately notified, and firefighters from both Ralston and Trout Run responded. Whitehall began performing CPR on the victim and he was joined by members of his fire company as they began arriving on the scene.
"About 10 minutes after being dispatched, we got a strong pulse from the victim, who soon started breathing on his own," Orr said. The victim was rushed to UPMC Williamsport by ambulance, Orr said Sunday afternoon, adding that it was his understanding that the victim has since been discharged and recovering at home.
Orr said CPR saved the man's life.
"For us to have a save in this rural area is pretty remarkable itself," he said. It made all the difference that the cardiac arrest was witnessed by someone who knew how to administer CPR, Orr added.