It's not something first responders at Eastern Pines Fire & EMS get to experience every day, seeing someone they helped revive come to their headquarters to say thanks. "I just want to thank God that everyone was in place to take care of me, especially my wife, to perform CPR until EMS came, and it's just great to be alive to see another day," says Timothy Waters, who was helped by Eastern Pines personnel.
Waters got the chance to hug each paramedic, volunteer firefighter, and deputy who responded to his home on July 8th when he went into cardiac arrest.
His wife, Teresa, was also there Monday and was overcome with emotion. "I thank God that he's alive, I really do," she says.
Paramedics demonstrated pit crew style CPR, the method used in saving Waters' life.
"The same as a pit crew on a NASCAR event, everybody on that cardiac arrest has a role," explains Roberto Portela, the Pitt County EMS Medical Director.
The quicker CPR is performed, Dr. Roberto Portela says the better chance there is of keeping oxygen flowing to the brain.