°

Homepage / Health
Text Size

'Cool' Heart Attack Victim Gives Rescuers Thanks

POSTED: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
UPDATED: 10:28 am EDT October 8, 2008

On Sept. 26, Maria Villarta and her husband went to the beach in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea on the anniversary of the death of their daughter to reflect on her life. In a bizarre twist of fate, the 40-year-old nurse and mother of three young boys almost lost her life.

Villarta's husband and sons went to get food and returned to find her lying on the beach, unresponsive. She wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse. Her husband, who is trained as a physician in the Philippines, began CPR in an attempt to revive his wife.

Dr. Michael Farrell, who had just finished his shift at Holy Cross Hospital, was dining at a beachfront restaurant when he saw what was happening and went to investigate.

When Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews arrived, they began aggressive resuscitative efforts, including Induced Cooling by EMS (ICE). The cutting-edge procedure, which was instituted by BSFR in April 2008, involves pre-hospital cooling of heart attack victims using near-frozen medications to lower the patient's body temperature.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue is the first department in Florida and one of a handful of departments in the nation implementing pre-hospital hypothermic resuscitation.

On Wednesday, Villarta and her husband thanked the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crew, Dr. Farrell and the hospital staff for their role in her care.

"This represents great strides in delivering 21st century medicine," said BSFR EMS Chief Steve Krivjanik. "As the standard of care continues to evolve, we're seeing more hospitals and municipal EMS providers coming on board with this treatment."

Villarta is the eighth patient to receive ICE since its introduction by BSFR.

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter. More

Before you hire a professional inspector learn to do your own pre-inspection to spot potential problems. More

You’ve heard of certain foods that can help you prevent cancer and even halt the spread of the disease. Find out if these anti-cancer foods really work. More

Most Popular

Marketplace

  • AutoClick to Expand

  • JobsClick to Expand

    • 7 Killer Cover Letter Mistakes

      Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter.

    • Why Having Fun At Work Matters

      If people are having fun, they’re going to work harder, stay longer, maintain their composure in a crisis and take better care of the organization.

    • Ten Tips To Boost Your Interview IQ

      Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ.

    • Learn How To Deal With Pay Cuts

      If you’re about to take a pay cut, find out how you can go about dealing with it and stay proactive about your salary.

  • WomenClick to Expand

    • Healthy Living In Your 40s

      Your guide to looking and feeling your best.

    • Manage Stress, Find Balance

      The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.

    • Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix

      Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.

  • InsuranceClick to Expand

    • Auto Insurance Quotes

      Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!

    • Health Insurance Quotes

      No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.

    • Home Insurance Quotes

      Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

    • Life Insurance Quotes

      What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.

    • Business Insurance Quotes

      Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.

  • HomesClick to Expand

Sponsored Links