Receiving a distress call from a member of the public, Kalani, a dedicated SLSWA Lifeguard on duty at Cottesloe Beach recently, sprang into action, going to the aid of a man experiencing chest pains.
The patient told Kalani he had experienced a similar but less severe pain some hours earlier, but after lying down, he felt fine. However, two hours later, whilst in the water, he felt a sharp pain across his chest and shoulders.
Despite the patient’s initial reluctance, Kalani monitored the situation, ensuring that the patient was stable and that there was no immediate need for ambulance intervention.
Assessing the patient and relaying information to on-duty SurfCom Operator Cooper, the pair were still concerned with the patient’s symptoms, which bore a resemblance to a more severe condition.
Checking the live wait times at nearby emergency departments and identifying Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) as the most viable option due to minimal wait times, Cooper urged the patient’s friends to take him to the hospital immediately for medical assessment, to which they agreed.
The patient’s son later contacted SurfCom to express his gratitude. Thanks to the timely intervention and urging to seek further assessment, doctors detected the onset of a major cardiac event and the patient underwent emergency surgery, averting a potentially tragic outcome.
What a fantastic story demonstrating the importance of swift action, effective communication, and collaboration between SLSWA emergency responders, resulting in the best possible outcome for the patient.
Shout out to Cooper and Kalani for their professionalism and care.
