Hamilton grandmother praised for life-saving action
October 28, 2024in News, Shocktober 2024
Paramedics have praised a Hamilton grandmother’s swift action in recognising she was having a medical emergency and calling for help.
Kaye Faulkner was at her mother’s house in August when she suddenly experienced heavy chest pain, quickly alerting her sister to call Triple Zero (000).
“I felt like a horse had given me a kick to the chest,” Kaye said.
“I knew straight away I was in trouble and I said to my sister I think I’m having a heart attack.”
(L-R) ALS paramedic Kirsten Walker, Kaye Faulkner and ALS paramedic Joel Gilmore, credit Hamilton Spectator.
Hamilton Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics Kirsten Walker and Ashlee Ludeman arrived within minutes.
“We had only been at the house for a short time when Kaye became very unwell and went into cardiac arrest,” Kirsten said.
“We commenced CPR and used a defibrillator, which administered three shocks.”
A MICA paramedic arrived soon after and the crew was able to stabilise Kaye and arrange for her to be flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Kaye spent a week in hospital in Melbourne before she was able to be transferred to Hamilton Base Hospital.
Her homecoming was made extra special with the arrival of her first grandchild just a few days later.
Kirsten said while Kaye was critically ill, she was hopeful that she would survive her cardiac arrest.
“It was such a sense of relief to hear that Kaye had made it,” she said.
“I shed a happy tear as she seemed like a lovely lady who still had a lot of life to live.”
Every day around 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest, with only one in 10 surviving.
Kirsten said the case highlights the importance of early recognition of cardiac arrest.
“Fortunately, Kaye told her sister immediately that she was not feeling well and she called us straight away,” Kirsten said
“If they had waited even 10 minutes to call for help, it may have been a different outcome.”
As part of Ambulance Victoria’s Shocktober campaign, Kaye was able to reunite with some of the paramedics who attended her case.
“I had tremendous care by everyone on the day and I am incredibly grateful,” Kaye said.
“Their sympathy, their compassion, and what shows is their passion for what they do.”
As she continues to recover, Kaye encouraged other locals to learn CPR.
“Everyone should do a first aid course,” she said.
“If you know CPR, you would be able to help someone in need and also recognise when you need help yourself.”
Shocktober is a month-long campaign highlighting the importance of learning CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Shocktober is a month-long campaign to highlight the importance of learning CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).