09/19/2026
On September 13, Wareham EMS was called for a patient having difficulty breathing. Moments later, the call became a cardiac arrest: the patient was unresponsive, not breathing, and CPR was underway.
First responders arrived in less than 10 minutes and found the patient in ventricular fibrillation, a dangerous heart rhythm that prevents the heart from pumping blood. With continued CPR and multiple defibrillations, the team achieved ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation). Our medics also identified signs of a heart attack affecting the posterior wall of his heart. Within an hour of the initial call, he arrived at Charlton Memorial Hospital for specialized cardiac care.
Six days later, Mr. and Mrs. Ellenwood walked into our station to meet the medics in charge of his care. Seeing them together was a moment our crew will never forget.
Mrs. Ellenwood played a vital role in her husband’s survival. She recognized the emergency and began CPR before responders arrived, helping keep blood flowing when every minute mattered.
We’re grateful to share this moment with the Ellenwoods and our community. If you were to ask anyone in healthcare, the most important factor in a patient’s likelihood of survival is early CPR and early defibrillation. Please consider learning CPR. Someday, you may be the person who can help save a stranger or someone you love.
Today we celebrate together, and hope that this message can show what a community can achieve together.
