PRIDEStar EMS Responders Reunite With Cardiac Arrest Patient

LOWELL, MA—PRIDEStar EMS announced Feb. 4, 2022 that two paramedics from its Trinity EMS division recently reunited with a patient they revived during a 9-1-1 emergency medical call last month.

On Jan. 7, Paramedic Samantha Kuenzler arrived at PRIDEStar’s Haverhill base for her 7 a.m. shift. Before going inside, Kuenzler chatted with the neighbor, Steven St. Germaine, who was clearing snow from the driveway in front of his home.

Kuenzler joked that St. Germaine lived in the safest house on the street because it was so close to the Trinity base. St. Germaine laughed and agreed.

At about 5 p.m., Trinity dispatchers received an urgent call from St. Germaine’s address about an unresponsive male. Kuenzler heard the call and raced across the street, while her partner, paramedic Bobby Thorne, brought an ambulance to the home.

They arrived to discover St. Germaine lying on the ground, motionless and without a pulse.

Kuenzler and Thorne assessed that St. Germaine was in cardiac arrest, and performed CPR and defibrillation for more than 18 minutes. Kuenzler and Thorne transported St. Germaine to Lawrence General Hospital.

St. Germaine was discharged on Friday, Jan. 28, and held an emotional reunion with Kuenzler and Thorne at his home later that same day.

“Steve has a very special place in our hearts,” Kuenzler said. “This is exactly why we do this job. These outcomes are few and far between. He makes this job worth it.”

“Bobby and Samantha showed a high level of professionalism in their response, for someone we know as a neighbor and friend,” said David Daly, founder and CEO of PRIDEStar. “We are so happy that Steve is doing well, and that this call had such a happy ending.”