Calling 911 for Heart Attack Saves Bonney Lake Man's Life

After surviving a series of cardiac arrest, one Bonney Lake man is thanking East Pierce Fire and Rescue for saving his life.

On March 19, 2013, Dave Wagner died five times after suffering a type of heart attack called the “widow maker", according to a press release from the department.

Three days later, Wagner was discharged from the hospital with only minimal damage to his heart and is back to leading a normal life with his family. 

His decision to call 9-1-1 saved his life. 

“If that hadn’t happened, he would have died while his wife was driving him to the hospital and his story would have had a completely different ending,” said East Pierce Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Jeff Moore. 

According to Wagner, 55, he had just returned home from work when he began to feel pressure in his chest. At first he asked his wife to take him to the hospital. But as the pain radiated to his jaw, he said, “Call 9-1-1. I think I’m having a heart attack.” 

East Pierce crews arrived and began their assessment. Lieutenant paramedic Jason Sanders read Wagner’s EKG and knew his patient was in trouble.

On the way to the hospital, Wagner remembers Sanders telling him, “Dave, I need you to talk to me.” Wagner replied, “Okay,” then went into cardiac arrest. 

Wagner went into cardiac arrest two more times on the way to the hospital and twice once he arrived. 

But fire officials said he is one of the lucky ones because his wife called 9-1-1. 

“Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and fail to call 9-1-1,” says Moore. “Going by car to the hospital puts loved ones in a horrible position if the person goes into cardiac arrest. “Driving yourself puts everyone on the road at risk,” Moore said. 

Calling 9-1-1 is the first step in activating a comprehensive system of care. 
“We’ve worked hard with other agencies, including Good Samaritan Hospital, to develop this system of care” said Assistant Chief Russ McCallion. “Our motto is: ‘When in doubt, check it out.’ We can wirelessly send an EKG to the cardiologists and confer with them. If you need to go to the hospital, we will take you. If not, no harm done.” 

According to the fire department, treatment for many heart attacks involves opening blocked arteries in a catheterization laboratory or cath lab. The paramedics can call ahead, so the cath lab can be prepped and the team is assembled prior to the patient’s arrival. It’s especially important late at night when the team may be coming from home.  

Not every hospital has the facilities to treat patients who are suffering from a heart attack. Patients who arrive at a hospital with no cath lab must be transported to a hospital that does.

Residents who live within the East Pierce Fire and Rescue service area, which includes Bonney Lake, Sumner, South Prairie, Wilkeson, Milton, Edgewood and Lake Tapps, pay no out-of-pocket expenses for ambulance transport.

The fire department will bill private insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse costs. 

“It’s important to know the symptoms of a heart attack,” Moore said. “Chest pain or pressure may not be the primary symptom, or even present at all.”

Other common symptoms of a heart attack include:

• unexplained shortness of breath;
• dizziness or weakness; and
• shoulder, arm pain or upper back pain.