MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- A firefighter team with the Miramar Fire Department saved the life of a 64-year-old woman April 8, at the air station’s bachelor officer quarters.

Bill Burich, paramedic, Miramar Fire Department, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, received a call from the dispatch center about a woman complaining of chest pains and feelings of nausea.

When Burich arrived with his 5-man firefighter emergency medical technician team he immediately treated the patient, who had a current history of blocked coronary arteries. He started with advance cardiac life support medication to stimulate the heart to help it begin beating normally again.

When the medication did not work and the patient went into full cardiac arrest, Burich then began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation then used an Automatic External Defibrillator.

The patient was “shocked” twice with the AED and “came to” shortly after the treatment.
“It is very rare to see someone make a full recovery after falling into cardiac arrest,” said Burich, who has been a paramedic for eight years.

The woman was transferred to the Trauma Center, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, Calif., shortly after she was revived.

There are usually two paramedics in the team that go to calls such as this one. One EMT will stay with the vehicles if they’re running and the other will do what they can to help the patient, said Burich.

All personnel in the Fire Department are civilians, some with military backgrounds.

The department constantly trains for any type of situation so they can act in a quick manner.

“If it weren’t for the training this department does, the woman may have not survived,” said Burich.

Burich became a paramedic because he wanted to enhance his abilities to help people. He attended Southwestern College, Chula Vista, Calif., for nine months where he learned to be an emergency medical technician.

“It’s the best feeling in the world when you can succeed in helping someone,” said Burich.

“It’s tough when you go on those calls that don’t work out the way you want it to,” said Burich. “But that time you make a difference for that person you’re helping, it’s worth it.”