By Bob Bartosz
Montgomery County Maryland Firefighter Kevin Farmer was just finishing up his tour of duty at Ladder Co. 12 in the Silver Springs section of Maryland and was looking forward to be heading south to Rocky Mount, North Carolina to attend his annual family reunion. The veteran firefighter had seen his share of fires and EMS calls and was having a few days off to enjoy the family reunion. He also planned to celebrate his 37th birthday.
On the afternoon of May 30, Rocky Mount firefighters were dispatched to the center city section for a severe gas leak. Engine Co. 6 had responded to the gas leak and was one of the first units to be released from the scene and was returning back to the station.
Just as Captain Michael Roupp, Fire Engineer Todd Joyner, Senior Firefighter Steven Coleman and Firefighter James Bridgers started to head back to their Station they were dispatched to a local park for a cardiac emergency. Engine Co. 6 was just a few blocks away at the time of dispatch and they were on the scene in less than two minutes.
Upon arrival they found an adult male in cardiac arrest. Firefighters immediately defibrillated and initiated CPR on the patient. After eight or ten minutes of resuscitation efforts the patient’s breathing and pulse were restored. West Edgecombe Rescue Squad arrived on the scene with Paramedics Kenneth Campbell and Daniel Walker and initiated advanced life support. They continued care and transported him to Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount. All Rocky Mount firefighters are Emergency Medical Technicians and all of their apparatus are equipped the latest basic life support equipment.
Family members at the scene told Rocky Mount Captain Roupp that their patient was also a firefighter and that he had responded to many of the same type of calls in Maryland — it was Firefighter Farmer. They thanked the firefighters for their quick action in saving his life.
Firefighter Farmer was later transported to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C., where he stayed for a week and made a full recovery. On Sunday, June 6, Rocky Mount Battalion Chief Larry Johnson received a call from Firefighter Farmer stating that he had been released from the hospital would like to stop by the station and thank the firefighters and paramedics for what they did in saving his life. He arrived at Station 6 for an emotional greeting and thank you.
Firefighter Farmer was accompanied by his mother and his girlfriend; they were also thrilled to meet with everyone. Captain Roupp presented him with some Rocky Mount Fire Department t-shirts and fire patches. Paramedic Kenneth Campbell presented him with one of his personal religious medals and wished him the best of luck in his recovery. Firefighter Farmer told Battalion Chief Johnson that he hopes to stop by each year and greet the members of the Rocky Mount Fire Department.