FEBRUARY 23, 2004
Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Employees Recognized By American Heart Association For Saving A Passenger's Life

Contact: Susan Kittle, Director Business Development
Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority
1 - 800 - FLY - LVIA

Lehigh Valley, Pa. - Five Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority employees were presented Heartsaver Awards from the Lehigh Valley Division of the American Heart Association based on their decisive actions in recognizing the symptoms of a cardiac arrest in emergencies and taking appropriate action. In addition, Steve Martin, Assistant Director of Systems Development for the Eastern Pennsylvania EMS Council, presented Certificates to the employees on behalf of the Eastern PA EMS Council.

The honored Firefighters included Lieutenant Craig Walters, Tom Renfroe FF/EMT, and John Demyan FF; Police Officer Russell Dettmer and Custodian Thomas Itterly. The victim was unconscious and in cardiac arrest. The individuals performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), attached an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the victim, which delivered three shocks prior to the arrival of the Northampton Regional emergency medical services (EMS) crew.

An AED is an electronic device designed to detect a fatal abnormal heart rhythm present during some cardiac arrests. According to the American Heart Association, that abnormal heart rhythm must be corrected by electrical impulse from an AED within ten minutes for the victim to have a viable chance of surviving.

According to Leslie Shotwell, Community Program Director for the Lehigh Valley American Heart Association Division, cardiac arrest strikes often without warning signs and can be detected by the following symptoms: a sudden loss of responsiveness on the part of the victim, no normal breathing detected and no signs of circulation or movement on the part of the victim. If witnessing these signs, the observer is advised to contact the local 9-1-1 system immediately and to check the area for an AED and for someone trained in its use.

Further information about what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency or a heart attack is available by contacting the American Heart Association at 610-867-0583 or by visiting the web site at www.americanheart.org.

Lehigh Valley International Airport is located near Allentown, Pennsylvania and serves a twelve county area with a population of 2.5 million people. The Airport is easily accessible from communities in eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey areas.