HEMPSTEAD — Thanks to the recent teamwork of three CSEA members employed by the town, one of their co-workers is alive.
After hearing through word-of-mouth that someone was suffering from a medical emergency in the vestibule next to the town’s Building Department, Janine Hough, Paul Montemarano and Dave Coaker went to the vestibule, where they found their colleague laying on her side.
While onlookers called 911, Hough, a clerical aide at the Building Department, went into the vestibule to help the victim.
“When I walked in, she was flat out on the couch and she was blue,” said Hough. “It felt like we were the only people in the room. It wasn’t even a thought. I just knew she wasn’t going to last if I didn’t do something.”
With that, Hough started doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). As CPR is more typically performed on a stable surface such as a floor, the task was more challenging because the woman was on a couch.
As Hough performed chest compressions, Paul Montemarano, a building plan examiner, started positioning the woman in need, cradling her head so Hough could properly perform the lifesaving technique.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Officer Dave Coaker grabbed the defibrillator, a device that sends electrical current to reestablish normal rhythm to the body’s natural pacemaker, and helped Hough and Montemarano as they waited for emergency responders to arrive.
“After about six compressions, her eyes popped open and she took a gasp of air,” said Hough. “She responded quickly.”
“After that, we pulled her off the couch and put her in the chair,” said Montemarano.
Shortly after, emergency responders arrived and took the woman to the local hospital for treatment.
“There was a lot of comfort in knowing that we weren’t in this alone,” said Montemarano. “I’ve taken a CPR class and it’s a lot more difficult when you’re doing it alone.”
Since the incident, the woman has made a full recovery and has returned to work.
All three of the lifesavers have seen the woman and have received warm hugs and many thanks from her.
For their heroic actions, Hough, Montemarano and Coaker received keys to the town from Hempstead officials and a special award from Hempstead Local 880.
“We’re all just happy that we were able to help,” said Hough. “We weren’t looking for any awards. We just wanted to do the right thing.”
— Wendi Bowie
