On the morning of May 31, 2016, Jay Tolisano experienced a cardiac arrest in his Fairfield home after his morning workout. Jay’s wife, Kerry, heard something weird coming from the room and decided to check on him. She found her 39 year old husband unresponsive. She immediately dialed 911.  The 911 dispatchers sent the Fairfield Police and Fire Departments and simultaneously notified American Medical Response. Upon the rescuers arrival, they found Kerry doing CPR on her husband with the assistance of the 911 dispatcher. CPR was taken over by the rescuers and advanced life support measures were started by the AMR crew Allen Jelliffe and Tchad Williams. With the arrival of a second AMR Paramedic crew, Matt Hlavna and Al McGrenery, they were able to work together and save Jay’s life.

Prior to departing the scene, and after defibrillating Jay and administering medications to him, his heart regained a normal rhythm. Jay was admitted to St. Vincent’s Medical Center and was discharged less than a week later without any neurological deficits. Thanks to his wife Kerry and the EMS System in Fairfield, Jay Tolisano can enjoy watching his sons play their favorite sport of baseball. Early recognition of a life threatening emergency, quality CPR and defibrillation are all keys to surviving a cardiac arrest. Pictures depict Jay Tolisano, wife Kerry, and sons Emmet and Kyle who all stopped by American Medical Response to thank the Paramedics and EMTs who helped save his life.