September 29, 2000

The medical device he uses to save others saved Shawn Germain, a 7-year MEDIC FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR. Shawn, an EMT for the Forsyth Township Ambulance Service, introduced Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to the service in an attempt to reduce the number of lives lost to ventricular fibrillation (VF). It came as quite a shock to Shawn when an AED was successful in saving his life.

On June 22, Shawn came home from work with a burning sensation in his jaw and throat. After a quick nap, Shawn now experienced severe chest pain in addition to the burning sensation. Shawn's wife immediately called 911. "By the time the ambulance came, I had the full symptoms of a heart attack," Germain said. "I never felt burning like that before. It was so severe that I could have burst out crying."

While en route to Marquette General Hospital (MGH), Germain was connected to an AED, a machine capable of delivering an electrical shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm. Shawn was transferred from the Forsyth Township's ambulance to the paramedic team dispatched from MGH. Shortly afterwards Shawn went into VF, a condition in which the heart quivers and is unable to pump blood. While transporting, this team administered a shock from their AED. It was successful in restoring the heartbeat. Following a four-day hospital stay Shawn was released. "If the rigs did not have defibrillation equipment, such as an AED, he would have died," said the cardiologist.

"I'm real thankful," Germain said. "This will certainly have an effect on how I view patients."

Shawn was contacted September 8 and reported he is back to work full time with no restrictions and is looking forward to training more people on AEDs.